WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release:

LAREDO, Texas As the countdown to Christmas is less than two weeks out, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations at the Laredo Port of Entry strongly encourages travelers to plan ahead, apply for I-94 travel permits online as CBP prepares to implement measures to facilitate Christmas, New Year's holiday traffic.