Journal Staff Report

The NEXUS Enrollment Center will be moving to Fort Frances, Ontario, from its current location in International Falls. Effective Monday, the NEXUS Enrollment Center will be relocating to 301 Scott St. in Fort Frances.

The NEXUS program allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers to be processed with less delay by United States and Canadian officials at designated border crossing locations. Approved applicants are issued a photo identification/proximity card. Participants present their NEXUS card at the crossing and make a declaration. They are then released, unless chosen for a more stringent inspection.

To participate, both the United States and Canada must approve an individual’s application. Denial of an application by either country will keep an individual from participating in the NEXUS program.

NEXUS is a binational program and applicants need to complete only a single application form. This form can be filled out online, mailed or faxed. Qualified applicants are required to come to a NEXUS Enrollment Center once for an interview.

The center’s hours of operation will be Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Interviews can be scheduled online using the enrollment system located on the NEXUS Web site, http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/nexus_prog/. NEXUS Program applicants can contact the International Falls port of entry at 218-283-2541 if they have any questions on the NEXUS program.

Pilot program

In addition, the U.S. Border Patrol is instituting a new pilot program in the Grand Forks sector known as the Resident Agent Program. The purpose of this initiative is to expand situational awareness by placing Border Patrol agents in strategic locations that do not currently have a strong Border Patrol presence.

The agents will be self-reliant units who are able to perform all of the standard Border Patrol duties without a traditional base of operation. The inherent benefit of this plan will be increased situational awareness and operational effectiveness derived from partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, as well as relationships established within these communities. The agents will be issued all of the necessary equipment to accomplish their mission, and will need to use law enforcement partnerships throughout the course of their duties.

Grand Forks resident agents are currently located in 12 different locations from Williston, N.D. to Ashland, Wis.

The Grand Forks sector covers approximately 861 miles of the United States/Canada border. The sector is responsible for eight states.