Acting Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Ronald Vitiello recently visited El Paso, Texas, and Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, for an event promoting cross-border relations between the two countries.
On Oct. 19, CBP personnel were in El Paso to discuss the agency’s day-to-day duties as well as its Air and Marine Operations branch with area residents.
The agency hosted informational booths for its young adult-focused Explorer Program, canine and horse patrol units, and CBP’s elite BORTAC and BORSTAR special operations division. A helicopter was also parked nearby for attendees to tour as well as CBP recruiter stations for questions regarding CBP careers.
Additionally, CBP experts were available to discuss the Missing Migrant program, which was launched to help families locate missing loved ones.
Later that day, Vitiello and Mexican Policía Federal Commissioner Manelich Castilla hosted an invitation-only concert from the Policía Federal Orchestra and Mariachi Band at the Chamizal National Memorial.
The day’s events concluded with a soccer match between personnel from the Mexican Policía Federal and CBP against the professional soccer team, the Ciudad Juarez Bravos, at Southwest University Stadium.
This was the fourth cross-border event hosted by CBP and Policía Federal in support of security along both sides of the international border. Previous events were held in San Diego and Tijuana, Tucson and Nogales Sonora, and McAllen and Reynosa.