Sidney Aki Named Port Director, Laredo Port of Entry
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 2, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Richard Pauza,
LAREDO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that Sidney Aki, previously the Assistant Director, Border Security, Detroit Field Office will serve as Port Director, Laredo Port of Entry. As Port Director for the Laredo Port of Entry, Aki will oversee the day-to-day operations of four international bridges processing passenger and commercial truck traffic, a railroad crossing, an international airport, import specialists at Laredo , Pharr and Los Indios and Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures operations for the Laredo Field Office. Laredo processes the largest amount of commercial truck traffic on the U.S.-Mexico border. In Fiscal Year 2010, CBP officers at Laredo Port of Entry processed 3.8 million pedestrians, 1.5 million commercial trucks, 5 million privately-owned vehicles and 43,867 commercial buses.
Since September of 2008, Mr. Aki has served as the Assistant Director of Border Security at the Detroit Field Office, Office of Field Operations (OFO). His responsibilities included assisting with the operational oversight of seven major ports of entry in Michigan and overseeing more than 1,300 employees. He has also held various Acting positions the past year to include Port Director at JFK International Airport and Director of Field Operations for both the Miami and Tampa Field Offices.
Beginning in September 2006, Mr. Aki served as the Port Director at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport . Mr. Aki also previously held the position of a policy advisor for the Assistant Secretary of Policy at the Department of Homeland Security from September 2005 through July 2006 where he provided assistance and oversight in the development of policy for border security related issues.
He also served as a policy advisor for the Commissioner’s Office of Policy and Planning and a program manager for OFO’s Border Security and Facilitation at CBP headquarters.
Mr. Aki began his career in 1996 as an inspector with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service at the Port of Calexico , California .
Mr. Aki is a native of Honolulu , Hawaii . He is a graduate of Saint Martin’s College in Lacey, Washington , and holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice.
Aki started his tour of duty as Laredo Port Director on Monday. After serving as Acting Port Director since January 2011, Jose Uribe returns to his previous role as Assistant Port Director, Trade Operations.
“I am looking forward to serving the local community in my new position as Port Director at Laredo Port of Entry. I would like to initiate a dialogue with local stakeholders as we seek to facilitate the ever increasing volume of legitimate international trade and travel while also performing CBP’s vital border security mission,” said Sidney Aki, Port Director, Laredo Port of Entry.
“Sidney’s management experience in a broad range of environments including airport, seaport and land border as well stints in policy and planning in CBP Headquarters uniquely qualify him for the substantial responsibility this position requires and make him a true asset to the Field Operations team,” said Eugenio Garza Jr., Director, Field Operations, Laredo Field Office.
