Examining the realities of border protection, immigration reform

Ana Hinojosa, deputy assistant commissioner for International Affairs at Customs and Border Protection, offers her take on border control and immigration reform.

“The system that we have now is not the most efficient that we could have,” she said. “I think it was designed at a time when the realities of the United States were different. I am going to be very optimistic that the leaders that we have elected will come together and come up with a better solution”

Hinojosa sat down with Women of Washington hosts Gigi Schumm and Aileen Black to discuss CBP and her work in the organization.

“I fell in love with the work, and I fell in love with the people,” said Hinojosa on her work at CBP. “I feel like I’ve been part of this organization through so many transformations, and I feel very fortunate to have had the career that I had.”

Recently, Hinojosa was nominated as a candidate to be the director of Compliance and Facilitation for the World Customs Organization, an international organization that creates global standards for customs and border management.

“I’m the only female that is on the slate for possible election into the WCO,” Hinojosa said, of her nomination. “If I am elected, I will be the only woman in an elected position. There have been women in the past, but for the past several years there have not been any women in an elected position at the World Customs Organization.”

Hinojosa also discussed the biggest influences in her life, including her family.

“My mother, who I think I would credit for the values I hold today, always encouraged me to work hard,” she said. “My mother always encouraged us to be the first one at work, work as hard as you can while you are there, and not necessarily be the last one to leave, but make sure that your boss knows that you’ve earned your salary and done more than what was expected of you.”

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