BUFFALO, N.Y. — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expecting an increase in border traffic this holiday season.

“Traditionally we see an increase of traffic during the holiday season at all of our ports of entry,” said Jeffrey Toth, public affairs liaison for the Buffalo Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"We normally look at several years of prior historical data to help us to appropriately staff our ports of entry to handle this increase of traffic," he said.

Border Protection are taking high numbers in both trade and travel into account.

“It is a little bit of a guessing game," Toth said. "We’re not exactly sure of what we’re gonna encounter, how many people we’re going to see crossing, but that’s why we look at those numbers so we can take our best guess."

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expecting an increase in border traffic this holiday season

  • Border Protection takes both trade and traveler numbers into account to estimate staffing needs for the holiday

  • Officers advise travelers to avoid crossing the border during peak travel times, typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also advise to have travel documents ready when approaching the border

The most important part to staffing the border during the holiday?

“We have to maintain our border security mission," Toth said. "That's our primary focus. That’s our priority.”

Their mission is to prevent criminal activity across the border, both during the holiday and every day.

“I mean, we’re always focused on the same things," Toth said. "Any kind of counterfeit items, narcotics, any kind of criminal activity, wants, warrants, anything along those lines. [We are looking for] people coming in that just aren’t supposed to be here."

This is why Border Protection stresses having a plan for crossing the border, especially during the holiday season.

“If at all possible, we always advise travelers to cross during off peak times," Toth said. "Which [is] basically between a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. window. They’d want to kind of travel outside of that because those times tend to be a little bit busier.”

Officials also urge travelers to have travel documents ready when they are approaching the border and “at the booth, tell the truth.”

“Declare any items that you’re bringing in," Toth said. "Especially this time of year, the holidays, if there’s any specific holiday items; gifts, food, plants, things along those lines, just make sure you’re declaring all those items."