On December 8, 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the City of Donna, Texas signed a Donation Acceptance Agreement (DAA) to expand the Donna Land Port of Entry (LPOE). This milestone is part of CBP’s Donations Acceptance Program (DAP), which allows local governments and private entities to contribute land, funding, or services to accelerate federal infrastructure projects. For Donna, the agreement represents years of planning and collaboration finally coming to fruition.
The expansion is not just a bureaucratic milestone but a transformative step for the region. The Donna LPOE has grown steadily in importance as trade between Texas and northern Mexico continues to surge. By formalizing this agreement, the three parties have created a pathway to deliver infrastructure improvements faster than traditional federal processes would allow.
For the City of Donna, this project is also a matter of civic pride. Local leaders have long advocated for improvements to relieve congestion and strengthen economic ties. By donating land and partnering directly with CBP and GSA, the city is ensuring that its residents and businesses benefit from a more efficient and modern port of entry.
Cutting Timelines Through Local Partnership
Federal port projects often stall due to lengthy procurement and budget cycles. Normally, acquiring land for expansion can take years, involving negotiations, environmental reviews, and congressional appropriations. The DAA changes that by enabling the City of Donna to donate land directly, bypassing years of acquisition procedures.
By securing the property upfront, GSA can move immediately into design and construction phases rather than waiting for federal funding cycles. This accelerates the timeline significantly, allowing work to begin in 2026 instead of being delayed until FY2027 or later. In infrastructure terms, shaving off a year or more is a major achievement.
This streamlined process also sets a precedent for future projects. Other border communities may look to Donna as a model for how local governments can collaborate with federal agencies to deliver projects faster. The DAA demonstrates that when local stakeholders are willing to invest, the benefits ripple outward to regional and national trade networks.
Reducing Truck Wait Times
The most visible impact of the expansion will be on commercial traffic. Currently, trucks face two to three hour delays at peak times due to limited lanes and inspection capacity. These delays increase costs for carriers, disrupt supply chains, and create congestion on local roads.
The expansion will add dedicated commercial lanes, inspection booths, and modernized facilities, cutting average wait times to under one hour. This reduction means each truck could save between one and two hours per crossing, representing up to a 50 percent improvement in efficiency. For carriers, that translates into lower fuel costs, reduced driver hours, and more reliable delivery schedules.
For the broader economy, faster crossings mean stronger supply chains. A truck that clears the border in 60 minutes instead of 180 can make additional deliveries in a single day. Over the course of a year, these time savings compound into millions of hours saved across the industry, directly boosting productivity and competitiveness.
Current Trade Volumes
The Donna Land Port of Entry has grown rapidly in importance. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the port handled over 400,000 commercial truck crossings in 2024, carrying goods valued at more than $8 billion annually. These volumes are concentrated in agricultural products, automotive components, and consumer goods.
With the expansion, CBP and GSA project that the port could handle up to 600,000 truck crossings per year within the next five years. This represents a potential 50 percent increase in throughput capacity, aligning with regional trade growth between Texas and northern Mexico. That growth could push annual trade values to $12–15 billion, a significant boost for the regional economy.
This increase also positions Donna as a competitive alternative to nearby crossings like Pharr and Laredo. By diversifying trade routes, the region reduces bottlenecks and strengthens resilience. For carriers, having multiple efficient options means greater flexibility and reliability in planning logistics.
Commodities Most Impacted
Certain industries will benefit disproportionately from faster crossings. Fresh produce and agricultural goods will reach U.S. markets with greater freshness and less waste, reducing spoilage and refrigeration costs. For growers and distributors, this could mean millions in annual savings.
Automotive parts, which rely on just‑in‑time supply chains, will arrive at assembly plants on schedule without risking costly production stoppages. Each hour of downtime at a U.S. assembly plant is estimated to cost $1 million or more. By reducing wait times, the expansion directly protects against these losses.
Consumer electronics and other high‑value goods will also benefit. Faster crossings improve reliability for retailers preparing for seasonal demand, ensuring that smartphones, laptops, and other products reach distribution centers on time. Cold chain foods like meat and dairy will face lower risks of temperature fluctuations, while industrial materials such as steel and cement will arrive on construction sites faster, keeping projects on track.
Broader Economic and Community Benefits
Beyond individual industries, the expansion delivers wide‑ranging advantages. Faster crossings mean stronger trade flows and more reliable supply chains, reinforcing Texas’s role as one of the largest gateways for U.S.–Mexico commerce. Texas ports of entry collectively handle over $250 billion in trade with Mexico each year, and Donna’s expansion positions it as a competitive alternative to relieve congestion at nearby crossings.
Modern facilities will improve CBP’s ability to detect contraband while maintaining efficiency. Advanced scanning technology will allow officers to process cargo more quickly without compromising safety. This balance between security and efficiency is critical in ensuring that trade flows smoothly while protecting national interests.
Reduced congestion will also lower emissions from idling trucks, improving air quality and safety in Donna. Local roads will see less spillover traffic, reducing wear and tear and enhancing quality of life for residents. Regionally, the Donna LPOE will complement nearby ports like Pharr and Laredo, giving carriers more options and reducing bottlenecks across the border region.
Before vs. After Expansion
Before the expansion, trucks carrying commodities such as fresh produce, automotive parts, and consumer electronics often faced delays of two to three hours at peak times. These long waits increased the risk of spoilage for perishable goods, disrupted just‑in‑time supply chains for manufacturers, and raised costs for logistics companies through higher fuel consumption and driver hours.
After the expansion, with additional commercial lanes and modernized inspection facilities, average crossing times are expected to drop to under an hour. This reduction means fresh fruits and vegetables can reach U.S. markets with greater freshness and less waste, automotive parts can arrive at assembly plants on schedule without risking costly production stoppages, and electronics can move more reliably to distribution centers to meet consumer demand.
The expansion transforms the crossing from a bottleneck into a streamlined gateway. By cutting hours off delivery schedules, it directly improves efficiency across industries most sensitive to time. The benefits will be felt not only by carriers and manufacturers but also by consumers, who will enjoy fresher produce, more reliable product availability, and stronger economic growth.
Conclusion
The Donation Acceptance Agreement between CBP, GSA, and the City of Donna is more than a bureaucratic milestone it is a practical innovation in border infrastructure delivery. By cutting timelines, reducing truck wait times by up to half, and improving efficiency for time‑sensitive commodities, the expansion of the Donna Land Port of Entry will accelerate trade, reduce costs, and strengthen U.S.–Mexico economic ties.
With throughput projected to rise from 400,000 to 600,000 trucks annually and trade values increasing from $8 billion to as much as $15 billion, the project sets a precedent for how public‑private collaboration can transform border infrastructure. It demonstrates that when local communities invest in national priorities, the benefits ripple outward to businesses, consumers, and governments alike.
Ultimately, the Donna expansion is about more than efficiency it is about building resilience, fostering economic growth, and strengthening the partnership between the United States and Mexico. By turning bottlenecks into gateways, the project ensures that trade flows smoothly, communities thrive, and the border region remains a vital engine of prosperity.