05.26.17

Hoeven, CBP Commissioner Review Locations for Grand Forks CBP Operations, Construction of New USDA Border Inspection Facility

Senator Worked to Secured $8 Million for New CBP Site, $5.7 Million for Pembina Ag Inspection Facility

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan today reviewed potential sites to relocate CBP operations including an existing facility on the Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) and Grand Sky Technology Park. Hoeven worked to secure nearly $14 million in the recently passed FY17 funding agreement for new border security facilities in the Grand Forks region, including:

  • $8 million for a new CBP facility, to keep CBP UAS operations and training in Grand Forks. The funding will enable CBP to relocate its operations to an existing building on the Grand Forks Air Force Base or Grand Sky Technology Park. 
  • $5.7 million to construct a new Agriculture Inspection Facility at the Pembina Port of Entry.

“We worked hard to secure funding for these important border protection facilities,” said Hoeven. “The Grand Forks Air Force Base is growing, which is good, but that means CBP will no longer be able to stay at their current location. The $8 million we secured for a new facility is crucial in retaining CBP’s UAS operations and training program in Grand Forks – and we believe that Grand Sky could be an ideal location for their operations. We appreciate Commissioner McAleenan visiting Grand Forks to help plan for CBP’s future here.”

Customs and Border Protection Facility

Due to growth on the Grand Forks Air Force Base, CBP will no longer be able to stay in its current location. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to secure the $8 million in funding to ensure that CBP can continue to conduct its UAS training out of Grand Forks. Hoeven and the commissioner toured the UAS operations and reviewed potential site locations for CBP’s new facility.

USDA Inspection Facility at Pembina Port of Entry

Additionally, Hoeven outlined the importance of the new Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) facility at the Pembina Port of Entry. After reviewing operations at the port last year, Hoeven worked to secure $5.7 million in funding to construct a new facility. The 6,685-square-foot facility will be built on the south side of the current port and will place all inspection operations on the U.S. side of the border. Due to logistical challenges, U.S. inspectors currently conduct on-load inspections at a trailer in the center of the port, but off-load inspections are performed at the Emerson Canadian Port, which is located one mile north of Pembina. U.S. inspectors must drive into Canada to perform inspections and then go back through port traffic to get to the APHIS trailer. 

“This new APHIS facility will make both on-load and off-load inspections more efficient and move all inspections to the U.S. side of the border,” said Hoeven. “This will enable U.S. inspectors to do their job more effectively and will help to protect our agriculture industry.”

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