Eagle Pass CBP Port of Entry Director Leadership Reduces Crossing Times Like “Magic”

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2018

For 7,000 or more travelers who cross daily the City of Eagle Pass International Bridges No. 1 and No. 2 the significant change in crossing times from their previous 2 to 3 hours wait time to the current 5 to 10 minutes is a godsend thanks to the new Eagle Pass Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Interim Port Diretor Paul Del Rincon.  

International daily travelers on both Eagle Pass International Bridges are singing praise for newly appointed Interim CBP Port Director Paul Del Rincon who has taken charge of the previous record long 2 to 3 hours crossing times by implementing existing CBP Programs through new leadership initiatives and psychological attitude changes among his CBP Supervisors and Staff in Eagle Pass, reducing crossing times between 5 to 10 minutes within the past three months since his appointment to the post.  What a difference leadership and attitude change makes.  

Since Interim CBP Port Director Paul Del Rincon’s leadership intiatives have been implemented by his talented staff and supervisors, the two Eagle Pass International Bridges have seen their traffic increase from their previous 7,000 daily combined vehicle crossings to up to 11,000 vehicles daily in some days.

At a Thursday, April 12, 2018, combined CBP and City of Eagle Pass reception announcing the implementation of the CBP Trusted Traveler Program in the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, Interim Eagle Pass CBP Port Director Paul Del Rincon was asked how did he and his staff dramatically reduced the crossing times from 2 to 3 hours to 5 to 10 minutes and he replied by stating “Magic” while clicking his fingers.  Del Rincon stated a meeting with the City of Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu and members of the Eagle Pass Business and Economic Development Committee about a month ago assisted him to understand and learn the importance of the crossing times at both Eagle Pass International Bridges and the economic and social morale impact on the United States-Mexico border, including the communities of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.  Truthfully, Del Rincon was observed walking daily through the lanes of both Eagle Pass International Bridges to personally learn the details and issues affecting all the CBP operations at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. He developed a plan of action with existing and available CBP traveler programs and initiatives and implemented them through his staff and supervisors, resulting in an incredible reduction of crossing times.

Del Rincon challenged the Cities of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico to increase the daily vehicle and commercial vehicles crossings at both Eagle Pass International Bridges at the April 12th reception. Del Rincon stated that he wanted to see both Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras to “double, triple, and quadruple the number of daily vehicles” crossing the Eagle Pass Port of Entry and grow the number of commercial vehicles daily crossings from its current 700 vehicles to 1,500 and up to 3,000 vehicles per day.  While speaking, Del Rincon reminded the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras business and government representatives in attendance at the April 12th reception that there was no line at both Eagle Pass International Bridges at the moment.

Eagle Pass Business and Economic Development Committee Chairman Morris Libson, Jr. stated that both Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras leaders, travelers, and business leaders need to recommend to CBP Laredo Field Director David P. Higgerson that Del Rincon be promoted from his Interim Eagle Pass Port Director status to the permanent Port Director in light of his amazing leadership and changes implemented during his first three months in the position. Eagle Pass BEDC Committee member and Customs Broker Ricardo Gonzalez echoed Libson’s recommendation and encouraged everyone to contact CBP Laredo Field Director Higgerson to promote Del Rincon to permanent Port Director.

Laredo CBP Deputy Field Director Bradd Skiner was present at the April 12th reception as a keynote speaker and duly took notes of the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras public leadership and business leaders request that Interim Eagle Pass Port Director Paul Del Rincon be promoted to permanent Port Director.  We’ll see what happens. Meantime, there are no lines at both Eagle Pass International Bridges. It is just like “Magic.”