Columbus New Mexico Port Of Entry
The US government first built a customs inspection station in Columbus in 1902. In 1916, that building was damaged during a raid by bandits led by Pancho Villa. The building has been refurbished and stands as part of Pancho Villa State Park.
After World War II, a one-story barracks (used by the personnel assigned to the U.S. Army's Air Base Columbus during the War) was moved to the southwest corner of the intersection of NM 11 (the Deming–Palomas road) and NM 9 (the Columbus–Hachita road). The first two rooms of this building were used by inspectors to inspect aliens who were applying for lawful admission to the US and to provide administrative workspace for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and the U.S. Border Patrol. In 1946, the remainder of the building was converted into living accommodations for one of the inspectors and his family. Three inspectors were assigned to the office, which was open initially from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and later from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
When Pancho Villa State Park was opened next to the site, a new Immigration and Customs building was built 3 miles (4.8 km) south at the border and the former office building and residence became a town library and public meeting room. From 1902 until this was done, a U.S. Customs Service inspection building stood on the northwest corner of the intersection of NM 9 and NM 11, and a house west of it was the residence for many years of Chief Customs Inspector Jack Breen and his wife Susie. That building is now a museum.
The current border inspection station was built by the General Services Administration (GSA) in 1989. GSA has plans to replace it once again.
References
- ^ http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/prd/panchovilla.htm.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
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