CBP temporarily closes Trusted Traveler Program enrollment c enters

Customs and Border Protection announced it has temporarily suspended operations at Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers nationwide until at least May 1.

A news release issued Wednesday explained that CBP is taking this precautionary measure to minimize the exposure of CBP personnel and the public to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

This temporary closure includes all public access Global Entry enrollment centers, NEXUS enrollment centers, SENTRI enrollment centers and FAST enrollment locations.

Global Entry mobile enrollment events are also paused until further notice.

Conditionally approved applicants who seek an enrollment center interview will need to reschedule after May 1.

These applicants are encouraged to monitor their email and Trusted Traveler Program accounts for further information.

CBP will continue to monitor the situation in order to resume enrollment centers interviews as soon as possible.

CBP’s Enrollment on Arrival program will remain operational. Conditionally approved Global Entry applicants will be able to complete the enrollment process when arriving on an international flight at any of the 60 airports that offer this program.

BLM to temporarily suspend entrance fees on public lands

The Bureau of Land Management is temporarily suspending the collection of all entrance fees until further notice, a BLM news release issued Thursday announced.

As a result, site-specific standard amenity and day-use fees at BLM recreation sites and areas will be waived for the foreseeable future.

Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use, and use of special areas, will remain in effect.

“I’ve directed the Bureau of Land Management to waive entrance fees at recreation sites and national monuments that remain open,” Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said in a release. “This small step makes it a little easier for the American public to enjoy the outdoors across the 245 million acres of public lands managed by the agency.”

In an effort to support social distancing, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other states and municipalities recently made similar announcements to temporarily suspend entrance fees at parks, refuges and other public recreation sites.

— Vincent Osuna, vosuna@ivpressonline.com