SANTA TERESA, N.M. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Santa Teresa Port Director Fernando A. Thome was formally sworn into office this morning at a CBP Field Operations change of command ceremony. Family, friends, colleagues and local dignitaries gathered as Mr. Thome recited the oath of office during a ceremony at the War Eagles Museum at the Dona Ana County Airport.

“This is a great honor to represent CBP and the port of Santa Teresa as the new Port Director,” said Fernando Thome, CBP Santa Teresa Port Director. “The agency has entrusted me with a huge responsibility and I look forward to working with the local Santa Teresa/San Jeronimo community and with our fellow law enforcement agencies in southern New Mexico.”

Port Director Thome recites the oath of office

As the Port Director, Mr. Thome will direct operations and enforcement activities and provide management and administrative oversight of CBP officers, Agriculture Specialists, and Canine Enforcement Officers working with the area port operations. Mr. Thome provides guidance to the areas under his leadership through policy implementation and quality management.

“I am proud to represent all the dedicated officers assigned to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. I am confident our officers will meet the challenge and continue protecting our nation,” said Thome. “I am happy I was able to share this day with my family, friends and fellow officers.”

Mr. Thome will work to ensure that the agency’s primary mission of preventing terrorists or weapons of terror from entering the United States is accomplished on a daily basis. Mr. Thome is also responsible for all immigration issues related to the admission and exclusion of people applying for entry into the United States. He is also responsible for customs and agriculture inspections at the ports of entry to ensure that all goods and people entering the United States do so in accordance with our laws and regulations, while ensuring that they are efficient in their processing to support the global market place and the international tourism industries.

Mr. Thome began his career with the Office of Field Operations (OFO) in 2003 as a CBP Officer assigned to the Port of El Paso. He has worked in various leadership roles during his tenure, to include: Supervisory CBP Officer, the Port of El Paso’s Administrative Chief, Acting Port Director for the Albuquerque Port of Entry, Chief assigned to the El Paso Field Office, the El Paso Field Office’s Border Security Coordinator and most recently, the Acting Port Director – Santa Teresa. In addition to Mr. Thome’s operational positions, he has also performed details to OFO Headquarters.