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San Ysidro Port of Entry
The busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere
The San Ysidro Port of Entry, between San Diego and Tijuana, is the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere, with tens of thousands of vehicles and pedestrians passing through every day. It is the southern end of Interstate 5 and the main gateway in the deeply linked binational region where Southern California meets Baja California, two economies and communities that function as one across the line.
Dozens of northbound inspection lanes funnel a relentless flow of commuters, shoppers, students, and families, and waits to cross into the U.S. can stretch for hours at peak times. The crossing has been repeatedly rebuilt and expanded to handle the volume, and it stands as the most concrete symbol of the day-to-day reality of the U.S.-Mexico border - far more about everyday movement and trade than the political imagery that surrounds it.