The San Clemente Border Patrol Station maintains a full-time traffic checkpoint on the northbound lanes of Interstate 5. It is one of seven stations in the San Diego Border Patrol Sector and one of four checkpoints. Checkpoint activities are directed against the smuggling of illegal aliens and narcotics away from the border area. The strategy of the San Clemente checkpoint evolved from line-watch activities and is tied directly to border enforcement activities. The strategic importance of San Clemente lies in its placement at a major route of egress from the immediate border, thus enabling the Border Patrol to provide a depth of defense beyond the international boundary and to effect broader border security throughout the border area.
Vehicular traffic is inspected at the checkpoint by officers manning positions at the freeway.
Due to heavy traffic volume, contact with motorists is minimal with prolonged questioning and vehicle inspections taking place in the Secondary Inspection site. Applicants are interviewed and processed at a leased site in the city of San Clemente. The San Clemente Station participates in a variety of community activities .