Customs Has New Field Director for AZ

Source from:  douglasdispatch.com 09/29/2007

David Higgerson, who began his federal career working with Canal Zone Customs in the Panama Canal Zone in 1971, has been selected as the new director of field operations for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Arizona. Prior to this assignment, Higgerson worked in a variety of positions, most recently as the port director in Hidalgo-Pharr, Texas, the fourth largest port of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border. Higgerson also has served as the acting director of field operations for the Laredo Field Office, where he oversaw operations at eight ports of entry extending from Brownsville to Del Rio, processing nearly 43 million cars, trucks and pedestrians and more than $88.3 billion in international trade annually. In his new position, Higgerson will be responsible for the operations and enforcement activities at the eight international ports of entry in Arizona, which process almost 36 million people, nearly 9 million vehicles, 368,000 commercial trucks, and almost $18 billion in international trade every year. Higgerson succeeds Donna De La Torre, who retired at the end of July. The Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing American borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers' primary mission is anti-terrorism, they screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Enditem