Cross-border students to soon get their own pedestrian crossing lanes at San Diego border

Alexandra Mendoza, The San Diego Union-Tribune on Dec 24, 2025

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SAN DIEGO — Cross-border students in the San Diego-Tijuana region will soon have an option for a faster commute to school.

Early next year, the pedestrian border crossings in San Ysidro and Otay Mesa will add dedicated lanes for students living in Mexico who cross daily to go to school in the United States, officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

“The program is currently in the planning and coordination phase, with implementation expected to begin in early 2026,” the federal agency said Tuesday in a statement.

The plan was first announced by Nicholas Pierce, the assistant director of border security at CBP’s San Diego field office, during a Dec.12 event celebrating the launch of a binational higher education consortium. A designated lane for students will also open at the Calexico pedestrian crossing in Imperial County, officials said.

The program will use advanced biometric technology to process northbound students, “to ensure a secure and expedited experience,” CBP said.

Those interested will be able to register in advance by submitting their travel documents. This will allow customs officials to have their information ahead of time.

The program will be available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and certain non-immigrant visa classifications, such as student visas, officials said. CBP said that further details will be shared as they are finalized.

Joaquín Luken, executive director of the nonprofit Smart Border Coalition, praised the program.

“It’s a win-win,” he said, referring to the benefits for both the border community and CBP’s security mission. “You have information in advance about who is coming, and at the same time, crossings are faster without sacrificing security,” he added.

Similar efforts have been made in the past in the binational region for cross-border students.

In March 2024, the city of Tijuana expanded its Fast Lane program to include cross-border students. Registered students can access the San Ysidro or Otay Mesa vehicle border crossings through a designated access point operated by the city of Tijuana.

However, the Tijuana Fast Lane program for students is only available for vehicle crossings at certain hours and costs about $340 per month. The program is not conducted by CBP, and it does not change the inspection process for entering the U.S.

Previous estimates have put the number of cross-border students in the region around 7,000. Luken hopes this program will provide a better and updated picture of how many students are crossing the border daily.