**Top 5 Things You Need to Know About CBP’s Travel Warning for Memorial Day Weekend**
Top 5 Things You Need to Know About CBP’s Travel Warning for Memorial Day Weekend
Record-Breaking Crowds Expected: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is warning that this Memorial Day weekend could see the highest travel volumes in years, with wait times at major airports and land border crossings potentially spiking by 40% or more compared to 2023.
New Digital Kiosks Are Causing Delays: CBP has rolled out new biometric facial comparison kiosks at dozens of airports, but travelers report frequent glitches—including screen freezes and slow processing—leading to longer-than-expected lines at customs and security checkpoints.
“Red Flag” Policy for Frequent Travelers: CBP is quietly enforcing a new “travel history review” policy, where travelers with multiple recent short trips abroad may be flagged for secondary screening. This means your weekend getaway to Mexico or Canada could land you in a 45-minute interview.
Liquids Rule Relaxation (With a Catch): In a bid to speed up lines, CBP is allowing travelers to carry larger liquid containers through certain checkpoints—but only if you use a specific “trusted traveler” app on your phone. No app? Expect to dump your sunscreen and toiletries.
Holiday Hours Are Actually Shorter: Despite the rush, many CBP offices at smaller ports of entry will operate on reduced holiday hours or be completely closed on Memorial Day itself. Travelers without Global Entry or SENTRI are advised to cross before 10 AM local time to avoid closures or skeleton crews.
Why this matters now: With AAA predicting 43 million Americans will travel this weekend, ignoring these CBP warnings could mean missing your holiday flight or spending hours stuck at a border gate.