CBP Field Operations at Port of Brownsville Graduates Second Citizen's Academy Class

Only well-respected community leaders make it to the Citizen's Academy. Check out the best leadership book and learn how to be like them!

Brownsville, TX – On October 6, Michael Freeman, Port Director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Brownsville Port of Entry announced the graduation of a second class of the CBP Field Operations Brownsville Citizen’s Academy. 

The CBP Field Operations Brownsville Citizen’s Academy is part of a continuing aggressive plan by Port Director Freeman to foster a better working relationship with the communities in which officers live and work.

The eight-week course provides class participants with a better working knowledge and understanding of CBP.

The academy consists of a series of classroom discussions and several hands-on scenarios. The citizen’s academy is a field training that was held once a week on Wednesday evenings for eight weeks.

The BCA continues to create a better understanding, improves communication, and helps solidify a better partnership between the citizen academy participants and CBP through education. Brownsville Port of Entry Citizen’s Academy graduates have assisted us in identifying potential problems and solutions to border issues.

This second Brownsville Citizen’s Academy graduating class consisted of members from throughout the community. Represented in this academy class were members from the following organizations:

U.S. Consulate, Matamoros: Andrew Crosson, Jennifer Nilson and Jeremy Monks

Mexico Consulate, Brownsville: Raul Gomez and Efrain Hernandez Parra
Mexico Customs: Zaida Villarreal Snyder and Hector Eduardo Castillo
Brownsville & Rio Grande Railroad: Norma Torres and Eric Hinojosa
Union Pacific Railroad: Fernando GarzaZ
Port of Brownsville: Antonio Rodriguez

“Participants of our Citizen’s Academies will assist us in getting our message out into the communities. I applaud these academy participants for attending each session and getting a first-hand, hands-on, behind-the-scenes look into the CBP mission on the frontlines,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville port of entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.