CBP Begins Scanner Upgrade at Paso del Norte

Construction to install advanced vehicle-scanning technology started October 30 while the crossing remains open.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Construction

CBP Begins Scanner Upgrade at Paso del Norte

Live Poll

Do you support slower border crossings for stronger vehicle security scanning?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection began construction to install advanced vehicle-scanning technology at the Paso del Norte border crossing on October 30. The crossing remains open, but fewer inspection lanes are available during the work.

Why it matters

The project is intended to strengthen vehicle inspections and help officers detect potential threats while processing lawful travelers and trade. Reduced lane capacity may slow crossings for El Paso commuters during construction.

Construction began October 30, with fewer inspection lanes available than usual during the project. The extraction does not specify the number of lanes affected or the expected duration of the work.

The players

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

The federal agency responsible for border security, customs enforcement and inspection at U.S. ports of entry, including the Paso del Norte crossing.

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

The nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress that audits federal agencies and published a January report on CBP's scanning deployments.

The details

Scanning equipment is being installed at the crossing while it stays open to traffic. The scanner images allow officers to identify irregularities and decide whether vehicles should be referred for secondary inspection. The Stanton Street commuter lane remains open for enrolled Trusted Traveler Program members, and the Port of El Paso Trusted Traveler Enrollment Center stays open throughout the project.

October 30: Construction to install scanning technology began at the Paso del Norte crossing.
January 2026: A Government Accountability Office report said CBP is deploying additional scanning systems before primary inspection.

Construction Context

CBP already uses advanced vehicle-scanning equipment at the Bridge of the Americas, where low-energy portals use low radiation doses to image occupied vehicles. The Paso del Norte work extends that same inspection approach to another El Paso crossing.

Travelers crossing at Paso del Norte should plan extra time while lanes are reduced during construction. Commuters enrolled in the Trusted Traveler Program can still use the Stanton Street dedicated lane.

The takeaway

Drivers using the Paso del Norte crossing should allow additional time during the construction period. Enrolled Trusted Traveler Program members still have access to the Stanton Street commuter lane.