By Steve Neavling
Jesus L. “Louie” Chavez has been sworn in as CBP’s Columbus port director.
“It is an honor and a privilege to lead the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection working here at the Columbus port of entry,” Chavez said during a ceremony. “I am committed to having this port deliver the finest level of service to the travelers and business community who use our facilities while also maintaining our vital homeland security mission.”
Chavez is tasked with directing operations and enforcement activities, as well as providing management and administrative oversight of CBP officers, agriculture specialists, and canine enforcement officers at the Columbus and Antelope Wells ports of entry.
Chavez joined the U.S. Customs Service in El Paso as an inspector in December 1991.
In January 2003, he was promoted to the position of supervisory CBP officer at the Columbus Port of Entry. In July 2005, he became assistant port director of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, and in August 2015, Chavez was assigned to the Office of Trade Operations at the El Paso Field Office.
In November 2018, Chavez was transferred to the Marcelino Serna Port of Entry to serve as assistant port director. In April 2021, he was appointed acting port director of the Presidio Port of Entry before being officially promoted to the Presidio port director post in August 2021.
Before joining CBP, Chavez enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1987.
