**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — (News Anchor Desk) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today issued a formal travel warning for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Who: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the federal agency responsible for securing the nation’s borders and facilitating lawful travel.

What: Issuance of an official travel warning and operational advisory for the 2024 Memorial Day holiday period.

When: The warning is effective immediately and covers the travel period from Friday, May 24, through Monday, May 27, 2024.

Where: All U.S. ports of entry, with heightened emphasis on major land border crossings along the northern and southern borders, as well as international airports and seaports.

Why: CBP officials project a significant, multi-year high in passenger and vehicle volumes. The agency cites the convergence of a robust summer tourism season, the return of business travel to pre-pandemic levels, and the holiday weekend. Potential consequences include extended wait times exceeding two to three hours at peak periods, lane restrictions at certain land ports due to infrastructure projects, and increased secondary inspections.

In a prepared statement, CBP Office of Field Operations Executive Director Matthew Davies stated, “Travelers should prepare for unprecedented congestion. We are deploying maximum staffing, including the activation of all available primary inspection lanes, but failure to prepare will result in significant delays.”

The agency strongly advises all travelers to: verify passport and visa validity now; declare all agricultural items, including food and plant products; and utilize the CBP One mobile application for real-time wait time data. CBP also cautioned against attempting to cross with prohibited items, including fireworks and certain defensive sprays, which remain non-compliant with federal regulations.