Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
The U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the City of Donna announced that they have signed a Donation Acceptance Agreement to expand the Donna Land Port of Entry for commercial traffic. The agreement formally authorizes the project to move from planning into construction.
“GSA is proud to partner with CBP and the City of Donna to advance President Trump’s commitment to border security,” said GSA Acting Administrator Michael Rigas. He described the effort as an “innovative project” that will deliver “significant savings to American taxpayers, ensuring secure infrastructure, and supporting American workers.”
The project is being carried out under the federal Donations Acceptance Program, which allows government agencies to accept donated property, funds, or services from public or private entities for improvements to ports of entry. According to the announcement, the City of Donna, GSA, and CBP will work together to build what is described as a model “port of the future,” featuring non-intrusive inspection technology for commercial trucks. Planned construction includes new northbound and southbound inspection facilities capable of handling fully loaded vehicles.
“We have reached a significant milestone in this project thanks to years of strategic planning and close collaboration between the City of Donna, GSA, and CBP,” said Diane J. Sabatino, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations. She added that as the project advances, she is “confident that our strong partnership with federal colleagues and the City of Donna will lead to its successful completion.”
GSA and CBP originally accepted the city’s proposal in April 2017. Since then, the project team has worked on designing a modern port of entry that meets current demand and uses technology to make processing more efficient. Signing the Donation Acceptance Agreement allows construction to begin.
City officials highlighted the scale and significance of the investment. “Today marks a historic milestone for the City of Donna,” said Mayor David Moreno. He stated that the agreement will “unleash over $62 million in crucial infrastructure investments at the Donna International Bridge, the largest project of its kind in our city’s history.” Moreno said the effort is “more than just infrastructure; it’s a bold investment in our people, our progress, and Donna’s future as a key player in international trade.”
Moreno added that the improvements will “elevate border security and expand trade capacity” while opening “new economic opportunities for Donna, the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and our global partners.” He described the bridge as “more than a crossing; it is a global gateway and a corridor that connects communities, drives commerce, and fuels prosperity.”
GSA and CBP noted that their agencies are permitted to accept donations for construction, alterations, operations, and maintenance at ports of entry. Such public-private partnerships are part of CBP’s Resource Optimization Strategy, which allows the agency to expand services and infrastructure where needed.
Moreno expressed appreciation for the collaboration. “On behalf of the City of Donna, I extend our deepest gratitude to CBP and GSA for their vision and partnership,” he said. “Together, we are building more than infrastructure; we are shaping a global future.”
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $110 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.
About CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is America’s frontline: the nation’s largest law enforcement organization and the world’s first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country’s economic prosperity. We enhance the nation’s security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.
