School Break Causes Long Waits at Nogales Border Crossings

Long lines and extended wait times were reported Friday at the Dennis DeConcini and Mariposa ports of entry in Nogales, following a school-day suspension that prompted increased cross-border travel.

The suspension of classes on Friday, January 30, due to a regularly scheduled teachers’ technical council day, allowed hundreds of families to plan trips to the United States. By mid-morning, wait times exceeded 100 minutes at both crossings, with lines stretching more than one kilometer in some areas.

At the Dennis DeConcini port, wait times surpassed 120 minutes after 10:00 a.m. Authorities reported that only five traffic lanes were open, two of which were reserved for SENTRI cardholders. Meanwhile, the Mariposa port had five general-use lanes open, with wait times exceeding 60 minutes.

Municipal traffic officials deployed officers near the border early in the day to maintain order and prevent unauthorized entry into traffic lines. Drivers were advised to use alternate routes to avoid congestion along Luis Donaldo Colosio Periférico and Plutarco Elías Calles Avenue.