CBP Temporarily Reducing Hours At Six Montana Ports Of Entry
Due to a significant reduction in privately owned vehicle and pedestrian traffic along our northern border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporarily reduced the hours of operation at six ports of entry in Montana beginning Monday, April 6.
With the “essential only” travel restrictions imposed on March 21 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-border travel has significantly declined. Reducing the hours of operations at ports of entry along both land borders will allow CBP to continue to provide service to these communities as we work to keep our employees safe from exposure and community spread.
The affected ports of entry include Raymond, Opheim, Morgan, Turner, Del Bonita and Piegan.
The Port of Raymond is currently open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The temporary hours will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Current hours at the Port of Opheim are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Temporary hours will be reduced to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday.
Hours at the Port of Morgan are currently 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Temporary hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday.
At the Port of Turner, the hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Its hours will be temporarily reduced to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday.
The port of Del Bonita’s current hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. The temporary hours for Del Bonita will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed Saturday and Sunday.
Finally, the Port of Piegan is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Under the temporarily reduced hours it will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
Travelers considered essential should adjust their travel according to the new hours of operation.
These reduced hours will remain in place until April 30, or until the Administration lifts the current travel restrictions. CBP will return to previous hours once the COVID-19 emergency has subsided.
Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) has urged U.S. Customs and Border Protection to restore the Raymond Port of Entry to around- the-clock operations to support Montana farmers.
“I write to urge you to restore the hours of operation to 24-hours for the Port of Raymond in northeast Montana. As our country continues to address the COVID-19 outbreak, it is vital that our farmers and essential agriculture inputs can move across the border without any additional, unnecessary obstacles,” Gianforte wrote to CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan. “Keeping the border accessible during planting season is essential.”
