September 2026 · Newsletter · By Alejandro J. Corona Villarreal

Newsletter – September 2026

Key points: new hours for the Calexico/Mexicali commercial port starting October 10, clarifications from the authorities on cabotage, and the process for recovering revoked visas.

In addition to the SUMMIT, this month the CBP/ANAM (Mexico’s National Customs Agency) bilateral meeting for Calexico/Mexicali took place. Attendees included the port directors of Calexico and Otay Mesa, an ICE supervisor, CBP/USDA, ANAM, and the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana.

New Hours for the Calexico/Mexicali Commercial Port

The first item announced was the updated schedule for the Calexico Cargo Facility, published in TIN 69990878. The new hours take effect on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Monday to Friday: 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Saturdays and holidays: 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

As usual, the following will not be allowed entry on weekends:

• Hazardous materials.
• Commodities requiring visas or special permits.
• Textiles.
• Scrap material.
• In-bonds with bulk, scrap or hazardous materials.
• Vehicle exports.

Questions about the hours: CBP Calexico Cargo, (760) 768-2347 or calcargosups@cbp.dhs.gov.

Cabotage: The Authorities’ Interpretation

The existing regulations were presented. The most relevant part was the authorities’ interpretation of the following scenarios:

Deadhead movements

This refers to entering the U.S. with a loaded or empty trailer for delivery at Point A in the U.S., then dropping that trailer and picking up another loaded trailer for transport to Mexico. The key is that the driver must cross back into Mexico the same day. If that isn’t possible, the driver must stay overnight in the truck or in a hotel in the U.S. The driver must not leave the truck or trailer in a Calexico yard and walk across to Mexicali.

Picking up export documents at a customs broker

It was confirmed that a stop to pick up documents (DODA) is part of the shipment’s international movement. It is therefore permitted, as long as it happens within a reasonable time.

Stops for inspection prior to crossing/import into Mexicali

It was confirmed that unloading shipments at warehouses for pre-inspection by customs brokers or authorities is part of the shipment’s international movement. It is not permitted to unload freight that will not cross into Mexico at that time, meaning freight that will cross later on a separate consolidated trip. To support this, the driver’s BOL must clearly show the destination address in Mexico for the freight brought to the warehouse for inspection.

Export and import milk runs

A shipment originating in Mexico may be delivered to multiple destinations in the U.S., as long as:

• the driver carries delivery documents showing each unloading address, and
• the driver does not pick up freight at those stops for delivery within the U.S.

The same applies to import movements. The driver must carry documents/BOLs showing the pickup location and, as the destination, the address in Mexico (not the warehouse or customs broker).

For these movements, it is essential to give drivers as much supporting evidence as possible to avoid any suspicion of cabotage. The use of security seals is also recommended, with any seal breaks documented through signatures and seal numbers printed on the paperwork, throughout the entire trip until arrival in Mexico.

Mileage limit for pickups

It was confirmed that there is no mileage, distance, or state-line limit for picking up a shipment within the U.S. destined for Mexico.

Routine stops

According to the authorities, stops to eat, fuel, shower, use the restroom, and rest are considered authorized within the shipment’s international movement. However, stops for the driver’s leisure or personal time while hauling freight are considered “cargo at rest.” In that case the freight takes on domestic status and is therefore considered cabotage.

Team drivers

Currently, the Calexico and Otay Mesa ports do not allow team drivers to cross into the U.S. in the same unit. In addition, the ACE/Manifest system only allows entry of the crossing driver’s name. The authorities therefore asked for the following:

• The team driver who crosses separately, within a reasonable time, must carry the trip documents supporting the movement.
• If possible, the team driver’s name should be added to the cover sheet or another printed document.
• During the trip, drivers must continue to comply with cabotage rules.

Customs system outages and blockades

• Intermittence, failures or outages of customs systems (Mexico or U.S.): if either system fails for a prolonged period and some shipments cannot cross into Mexico the same day, stopping and parking the shipment at a yard or warehouse will be considered cabotage. The driver must wait it out by sleeping in the truck or at a hotel.
• Blockade of the port of entry (Mexico): if the Mexican port of entry is blocked by a protest for a prolonged period and some shipments cannot cross into Mexico the same day, stopping and parking the shipment at a yard or warehouse will be considered cabotage. The driver must wait until the port reopens or use alternate ports of entry.

Revoked Visas: Recovery

With the Department of State (U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana) participating remotely, follow-up questions about recovering visas revoked for cabotage were addressed.

We were told that, to date, no revoked visas have been returned to drivers. They consider it highly unlikely unless the driver presents evidence that the visa was revoked in error or without justification by the agency that revoked it.

Therefore, before scheduling a visa appointment, the driver must first contact the corresponding agency (ICE or CBP) and start the process through the DHS TRIP portal. This process must be completed directly by the driver or their attorney, since CBP does not provide information to third parties or employers.

ICE

The ICE supervisor in attendance explained that officers always work with a supervisor on duty, and the supervisor has the final say on revoking or removing a visa. He recommended that, if needed, we ask the supervisor on duty for an explanation and interpretation. He also committed to ensuring that drivers always receive an official document stating that their visa has been detained or revoked.

Final Remarks

The discussion at this bilateral meeting helps clarify the authorities’ interpretation. However, I believe these points should be formalized in writing through a TIN, like TIN 68683336, Cabotage Q&A. It is important to keep these documents, and even for drivers to carry them, to support CBP’s position with any other agency they may encounter along their route.

I’ll close with the same remarks the officers left us with: with the recent signing of Executive Order 14411, CBP and all of its agencies now have broader authority to enforce the law, not just cabotage rules. We must all be aware of the current administration’s focus and comply with U.S. regulations, even if that means changing and updating the way we conduct international trade.

Update (October 5, 2026): CBP issued TIN 70129380 with cabotage clarifications that formalize several of these criteria. Read the summary.

Reference Documents

• TIN 69990878 – New hours, Calexico/Mexicali commercial port (detailed above).
• TIN 68683336 – Cabotage Q&A (PDF)
• TIN 70129380 – Cabotage Clarifications (October 5, 2026)

Questions about how to apply these criteria to your operation? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp at 686 543 1017.

This newsletter summarizes statements made by the authorities during the bilateral meeting and is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not replace official guidance issued by CBP or other agencies. Interpretations may vary; we recommend reviewing current regulations and consulting your legal advisor as needed.

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