Customs and Border Protection appoints Roque Caza port director for Calexico

The Calexico Port of Entry gained a new port director this week, with the United States Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) appointment of Roque Caza, previously the director of the CBP Counter Network Division (CND).

Calexico is the third busiest of six land border crossings under the jurisdiction of the San Diego Field Office, linking California and Mexico. The San Diego Field Office stopped and processed 60,721 inadmissible persons this year through June. The office also oversees about half of the seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamines seized by CBP nationwide. Additionally, its agents seize about 45 percent of all heroin captured by the United States.

“I am excited and humbled to lead the men and women at the Port of Calexico, and I look forward to working closely and collaboratively with our local stakeholders to ensure the region remains prosperous while also protecting the public we are proud to serve,” Caza said.

As Calexico port director, Caza will oversee all operations, budget, personnel, and enforcement at two passenger processing crossings, a private air facility, and one commercial crossing between Calexico and Mexicali, Mexico. The agents under his purview oversee more than 5.7 million vehicles and 11.4 million travelers annually.

“Mr. Caza is a strong, proven leader that will serve us well as the Port Director in Calexico,” Anne Maricich, acting director of field operations for CBP in San Diego, said. “We look forward to how Port Director Caza will use his experience as he takes on this new role to support our mission to keep legitimate trade and travel flowing while securing the U.S. border.”

In addition to his time as director of the CND, Caza also served as assistant director there. He began work in this field with the former U.S. Customs Service at the Port of Nogales in Arizona in 2000. Since then, he has also served at Arizona’s Port of San Luis as assistant port director and acting port director.