Speech #960259206

This new facility would become the main commercial inspection station for San Diego and will also have primary and secondary inspection capability. This will allow for much of the passenger vehicle traffic to be diverted away from the heavily traveled port of entry at San Ysldro. Yearly traffic estimates by the Immigration and Naturalization Service state that 35 million people and approximately 12 million vehicles cross the international boundary northbound through San Ysidro. Mr. President. the city and county of San Diego have determined the second border crossing to be a central element in their development strategy for OtayMesa. This is based on two assumptions. The first assumption is that by constructing the crossing. and thus facilitating trade between Mexico and the United States. both Mexican and American private investment on the OtayMesa will be stimulated.