Most of the time it's quick and easy on the weekends. Even when it's active, there are minor delays.

I visit frequently to San Clemente, driving from Escondido. On our way to South San Diego with my friends, we stumbled upon this curious check point. Our commute has stopped abruptly, as we faced on some traffic passing. A good 15 minutes went by, until we reached the end of the blockage. Was it an accident? Is it rush hour? It's a plane, it's a squirrel!! Nope. Just a very empty checkpoint with hardly anyone in sight. I was pretty bummed out that this was the result to such heavy detours, but happy to pass it. I hear that it varies, but most times it is nothing out of the normal. This checkpoint reminds me of the "Designed to keep pests out," Yermo station to be replaced agriculture checkpoints in California! Coming from Denver, CO, I'm not used to seeing these checkpoints. It's interesting seeing that from California. read more

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I frequently drive to south San Diego. Usually these are quick last minute trips around 8:00 or 9:00 pm. I travel back during the wee hours around 1:00-3:00am. Most of the time the check point near San Clemente is closed. I should say 80% of the time it is closed. Earlier this week the Mister passed in his car and I drove through it alone in my car and the agent motioned with his hands to keep going. Sweet. Then this last time, another late night trip had me in the exact same spot, but this time the Mister was driving my car. It looked like the agent motioned us to keep going by waving his hand. We continued through then we hear a tap tap on my car. Oh snap. No, he motioned us to STOP. The agent proceeded to tell us we failed to stop, we were going so fast. Gave us all the questions where are you coming from? Where are you going? What were you doing? Do you have anything illegal in your car, any guns? Any drugs or controlled substances? All this while looking in my backseat and hatch area and at our eyes. Ummm nope, just some Horchatta and Orange Bang while thinking in my head how am I going to tell my boss I'm being detained. We explained to him he thought he told us to go, like they did earlier this week. He was not amused. Come on, it's 2:30 am we just want to get home and go to bed. He told us we should open our eyes and pay attention. I get it he is doing his job and we misunderstood his motions. He finally let us go. But yea, if you are stopped be prepared for questions. In a few days when I pass again. I'm going to stop and confirm that it is okay to go. read more

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The San Clemente border patrol checkpoint is almost as much fun as those agricultural checkpoints on the 10 coming back from Arizona, or for those of you who travel California well like I do-- The one on US-6 North of Bishop, or the Department of Fish and Wildlife abalone checkpoint way up there on the 101 in Norcal. Yes, Mildred, they're looking for abalone. Fun, you ask? Well, next time you're coming back on the I-10, ask the officer, "Say... what do desert tortoises eat, and how long can they live in a closed duffle bag?" Hilarity will ensue. But these fellas and ladies in San Clemente are not looking for marine gastropods or federally protected reptiles. Actually, I'm not sure what they're looking for... I just know they're not looking for me. My anecdotal evidence of this assertion is that every time I approach the gate, the fellow wearing aviator sunglasses and a uniform wave me through without any real affective response. I nod ever so slightly, and gently accelerate, just in case CHP is using the checkpoint for cover like a largemouth bass hiding under a sunken log. Seriously, I have no truck with these folks. While I've never seen them make a big score, I can only imagine that they must drop the net on drugs, contraband, and folks who shouldn't be driving up I-5 for whatever reason. Traffic sucks, but traffic sucks everywhere in Southern California. If you're going to close three or four lanes on a freeway, better that it's a law-enforcement agency trying to keep us safe, than some idiot who flew into the center divider trying to send a Snapchat picture of their face as a waffle or with canine features. read more

I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret. (given to me from a border patrol agent as well as an FBI agent) They close due to tips given to them by field offices and are looking for specific cars. They are not profiling, but if you fit the bill they are given, then so be it. Your honesty and compliance go a long way in moving along. I've been stopped, answered 2 questions and been on my way. I've also been stopped and searched. I'm brown, but travel past here every day. Yes, every day for roughly a decade, so I've come thru here literally more than all the other reviewers combined. I've been stopped and not stopped, but I also drive a common card (Grey Altima). So you have to sit in your car a few extra minutes, better than having extra drugs, guns and people trafficked around. The officers themselves also have discretion to pull vehicles not on the radar for non border related issues because they are law enforcement officers on top of border patrol agents. Their lines of questioning are for a reason to clarify why they asked about how long you've driven the car. It's not a registration check, it's a border patrol check point, not like a PD or County pop up kind. I think many of you all need to grow up and open your eyes as to how the world works. Yes there is injustice and racism and things of that nature, but to criticize without any facts is only perpetuates things. The only real thing I'm mad about is they are no help. For road side assistance. No air, water, gas or bathrooms for public use. Sure the Rest area is a few miles down the road, but some things can't be avoided and sometimes emergencies can't be waited for a rest area. Staff here are nice about it, but they simply don't do those things. They also don't like you smoking cigarettes in and around the search area or while waiting for a tow, but won't arrest you for it. read more

I haven't been to Mexico in a long time, i outgrew the Avenida de Revolucion scene years ago, and I don't think I have been to TJ since they started selling Zyrtec over the counter in the USA, but still, I have to deal with the Border Patrol all the time, Because they set up roadblocks on the border between San Diego and Orange counties. Now as I am a white guy, I basically give them 10 minutes of time, and burn some extra gasoline (at $3.35 a gallon) just to get a friendly wave, but those that don't share my lack of melanin can expect to get questioned. In fact I have only been stopped once in what I would guesstimate is the 200-300 times I have been thru this checkpoint, And that was the day I found a Mariachi CD in my rental car and was blasting it as I waited on line. read more

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I'm tired of seeing our tax dollars paying for all these board and patrollers to sit on their cell phones all day long on the freeway. Their superiors need to make sure that their cell phones are put away during work hours just like everyone else especially when they're using our tax dollars to sit there and like photos of Instagram pictures. This is sad anytime I pass by a border patrol just sitting there he's always on his phone all of them. All they're doing is racial Profiling and liking Instagram pictures. This is America for you your hard earned tax dollars at work. read more

I feel like this location is closed more than when it's open. And when it is open, it causes traffic for miles. But I guess they're just doing their job so I'm not going to complain about having to sit in my car a few extra minutes while they look for what they're looking for. I also mentioned this my tip: the actual location of this place is MUCH further south than Yelp lists it. This is just south of the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant yet Yelp has it much further North of that in San Clemente. read more

The Border Patrol station in San Clemente needs to be closed because of the traffic congestion it creates. It's a problem for thousands of travelers and commuters and is unwelcomed by most residents in Orange and San Diego counties. In addition to posting reviews on YELP I suggest bringing these issues to our elected U.S. Congressmen and Senators just as I have done. Alternatives to addressing national security issues need to be created and implemented which will not come at the expense of travelers and commuters who depend on the freeway to be at their workplace on time and not be detained at a border patrol checkpoint which is 75 miles away from Mexico. For those who are in favor of closing the Border Patrol checkpoint in San Clemente it's time that we contact our members of Congress to share our concerns. If any of you want change then I suggest contacting Congresswoman Susan Davis at the link https://susandavisforms.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/ if you reside in San Diego County, Congressman Darrell Issa at the link http://issa.house.gov/contact/contact-me if you live in Orange County and Xavier Becerra in Los Angeles County at the link http://becerra.house.gov/ and be sure to provide them with the link http://www.yelp.com/biz/border-patrol-san-clemente. read more

I don't know how I feel about this. Part of me understands they're just doing their job. And admittedly, they do catch a lot of "wrong doing" here...but it seems ridiculous to me that this is set up all day every day. Okay thats a bit of an exaggeration. I guess I'm a little bitter because I misinterpreted a hand signal and got chased down by a flurry of border patrol cars and spent the remainder of my car ride in hysterical tears. I know they need to err on the side of caution and all, but it just sucks when all you want to do is use a freeway and you have to go through this. Its weird too...they asked how long i had had my car for...my entire (driving) life! Its registered to me o_o?! Why dont you just ask for my registration instead? and to the guy below...we'll I'm asian and look it, so I don't know so much about that racial profiling business anymore. And I've never even partied in mexico in my entire life ... ;_; wtf. read more

My family and I have driven back and forth through this checkpoint and we've never been pulled over or anything, so thankfully we've never had any problems. I've read that it can cause traffic which would have been annoying since this last time we were there it was to attend the funeral of a family member, so I can understand how it can be annoying if people are trying to reach their destination on time,especially after being on the road for over 8 hours. We've only seen the lanes blocked ONCE, and our family drives a big Denali so we thought we'd probably be checked or something since it was a full car, but no we were just waved through. read more

Very bad service of "La Migra".. I come often to San Diego California, and on my way back (either on bus or my own vehicle) they never stop to verify legal documents "Papeles" (Papers) .. So.. Let me ask to those border patrol officers, how do I know if we are all legal inside the bus if you don't stop the bus to verify that we all are?? Anyways I don't care (I should.. Should I?) because I save time before we hit traffic on the Interstate 5. read more

U.S. Customs & Border Protection - Very bad service of "La Migra" - Police Departments Near Me

This just made me laugh... The Border Patrol seems horribly inept. I am sorry... but for the most part this is true. Had to love the sniffing doggies though... they made the horrible wait somehow bearable. I haven't been to Mexico in many many years... just because I don't want to be murdered, have drugs stuffed in my insides and then sewn back up. It happens. Look it up. I've known some people who have safely been back and forth across the border... but I wouldn't take that risk. I don't know. I'm done rambling now. read more

Great to know there is people who are genuinely taking care of us. Thank you for keeping Orange County safe!

Why do we have a border stop so far form the border? Im not sure but it breaks up the ride and offers some entertainment when you get to see the now famous yellow caution signs showing imigrants running acrss the freeway. read more

I mean really, what do they do here?? Why do we stop if they are just going to wave us through? Do they stop people that look like they are smuggling something, do they stop people based on the car or the color of their skin..... what's the purpose? read more

We drove down to san diego last week on 7/3 and while passing the border patrol on the other side in the late afternoon, I saw there was a big backup of cars, and I saw the signs on the platform "us officers - stop here". At that point, I wasn't looking forward to return from san diego to get back to orange county and have to wait and go thru that long line of cars just to get pass it. However, as it was time to finally goto LA and pass the border patrol at san clemente, it was actually closed!! We drove pass it at about 8:30pm. It was totally empty and nobody at the right side weigh station either. I'm wondering if the border patrol checking is only done during the normal business hours. If this is the case, it will be a good idea to head up to LA later in the evening to not have to get stuck waiting to get waved thru the line. read more

These guys are putting forth their best effort to protect us all from dangerous people and things. Unless you are willing to gear up and do that thankless job yourself, keep your petty complaints to yourself! You enjoy your freedoms under the blanket of protection that these brave men and women provide! read more

Question. This has not much to do with Border Patrol and everything to do with the area. I rated 5 because this should not effect their rating. Did annoying else driving through here today smell a VERY strong gas smell? Borderline nauseating. About 6pm? Stronger than what one would describe as incidental? read more

Just need to look at the success of this border checkpoint, there is no success. This is such a waste of taxpayers money its not even funny. Not to mention it waste of time sitting in line waiting for them to "allow us through" 75 miles from the border. Come on, get real. read more

From Niagria Falls to U.S. The female agent was not nice. We were visiting the falls for the day. It was shocking to be interrogated and her rudeness was an embarrassment for our country. There is a way to be through and still do your job in a pleasant, gracious manner. We were are all U.S. Citizens in this car. That all happily supplied our passports. read more