By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the appointment of a new port director at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, federal officials said.
In her new position, Mariza Marin is the first woman port director at San Ysidro, joining other women in leadership positions within the San Diego Field Office, including Anne Maricich, Deputy Director of Field Operations, and Rosa Hernandez, Port Director for the Otay Mesa commercial crossing. The previous San Ysidro Port Director, Sidney Aki, left his post in January 2022 when he became the new Director of Field Operations for the San Diego Field Office.
Marin will oversee all operations, budget, personnel, and enforcement at the nation’s busiest border crossing, located between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. She will also supervise Customs and Border Protection operations at the Cross Border Xpress, a first-of-its-kind public and private venture that serves as an enclosed pedestrian bridge directly connecting San Diego with the international airport in Tijuana, Mexico. In addition, Marin will have oversight of the Port of San Diego which covers international commercial and private air operations and maritime commercial and cruise ship operations.
“It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to serve the communities of Tijuana and San Diego, my hometown. The women and men of CBP at the San Ysidro Port of Entry work tirelessly to keep our nation and communities safe while ensuring the prosperity and health of our binational communities. I am privileged and humbled to lead such an amazing workforce into the future,” said Marin.
“Ms. Marin’s leadership will help to enrich the San Diego Field Office and her selection reflects our unwavering commitment to serve the local communities and ensure bi-national economic prosperity,” said Anne Maricich, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “I have no doubt that with Port Director Marin’s significant level of work experience, she will seek new and innovative ways to make the San Ysidro Port of Entry more effective and efficient while balancing our mission priorities of border security and the facilitation of lawful trade and travel.”
Marin began her career with Customs and Border Protection in December 2008 at the LA and Long Beach seaport, transferring to the Otay Mesa port of entry in 2010. She has spent more than half of her public service in varied leadership positions including Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer, Branch Chief, Watch Commander, and Assistant Port Director. Throughout her years with the agency, her various posts have encompassed the land, sea, and air passenger environments.
She currently serves as an advisor on the University of California Riverside’s, Design Think Executive Program Advisory Board. The program explores innovation and the design of products and services that benefit both internal and external stakeholders. The format is designed to develop creative and critical thinking skills to lead innovation initiatives. Many of the participating organizations are listed on the Fortune 500 list.
Beginning in October 2015, Marin had leadership and direction over the administrative and criminal enforcement actions of all immigration interdictions including pre and post-criminal investigations of individuals suspected of violating criminal or civil laws enforced by Customs and Border Protection. In September 2019, until she left for temporary duty in Washington, D.C., Marin held the position of Assistant Director of Border Security, for the San Diego Field Office.
Prior to her assignment as port director, Marin served as Chief of Staff for the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations Executive Assistant Commissioner. She also worked as the Director for Border Security at the White House National Security Council. Her work included the development and implementation of policies to strengthen border security across the nation and curb irregular migration. She is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense Studies, Executive Leaders Program.
Customs and Border Protection officers at San Ysidro process approximately one out of every ten people who enter the U.S. nationwide, inspecting almost 100,000 persons for entry into the U.S. daily at the 24-hour crossing, while providing safety and security at the border, stopping illegal activity.
San Ysidro is the largest and busiest border crossing within the San Diego Field Office, which covers the six land border crossings between California and Mexico.
