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-Editorial
The Business Coordinating Council of Mexicali (CCE Mexicali) has issued a call to state authorities to address long wait times at the Centinela military checkpoint, urging measures to reduce delays that can stretch up to two hours.
In a statement released on August 18, the council appealed to Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, the State Congress Tourism and Investment Committee, and the State Secretariat of Tourism to coordinate with the Mexican Army to streamline vehicle inspections.
CCE Mexicali noted that families traveling for recreation on weekends often face exhaustive reviews under military rather than police criteria, discouraging tourism and economic activity in destinations such as La Rumorosa, Valle de Guadalupe, and Ensenada. The group said that long lines not only cause inconvenience but also expose travelers to heat, vehicle strain, and wasted time.
Among its proposals, the council recommended that inspections be managed to keep wait times to no more than 30 minutes, that higher-ranking military personnel be present to make decisions on-site, and that the State Tourism Secretariat maintain a presence at Centinela to facilitate real-time solutions. The council also called for the State Congress to include the issue in its legislative agenda.
“We ask that Baja Californians be treated as citizens of their state, not as strangers, and that inspections be conducted with proper police criteria and trained personnel,” said CCE Mexicali President Octavio Sandoval López.
The business organization stressed that addressing the issue is vital to supporting tourism, protecting the quality of life for residents, and ensuring free and efficient mobility across Baja California.