Rose Brophy is Named Interim DFO for Laredo Field Office, Succeeds DFO David P. Higgerson (ret.)

LAREDO, Texas –U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today that Rose Brophy, formerly the Director, Field Operations, Buffalo Field Office, has been selected as interim Director, Field Operations for Laredo Field Office. Brophy succeeds DFO David P. Higgerson, who retires after 49+ years of federal service. Ms. Brophy is expected to enter on duty in Laredo in early November 2019.

“The Laredo Field Office is an important, large and strategic field office that leads the nation in innovative approaches to enhance border security and trade facilitation envisioned and implemented by DFO Higgerson. I have had the opportunity to tour my new area of operation and meet our employees. I intend to utilize that strong foundation, employ best practices and build upon those as we continue to face an ever-changing security landscape and an ever-growing trade environment,” DFO Brophy said. 

As Director of Field Operations for Laredo Field Office, Brophy will oversee the operations of eight ports of entry extending from Brownsville, Texas to Del Rio, Texas.  The Laredo Field Office processes the largest amount of land-based commercial truck traffic in the United States with more than $178 billion in merchandise entering in FY2018 through the 23 crossings, six airports and one seaport which comprise the eight ports of entry.

In addition, in FY2018, CBP officers seized 101,509 pounds of narcotics valued at $243.5 million while processing over 3.5 million commercial trucks, 21 million privately-owned vehicles, 58 million passengers and pedestrians and 69,594 buses within the Laredo Field Office.

Ms. Brophy previously served as the Director of Field Operations (DFO), for the Buffalo Field Office.  In this role, she led over 1,500 employees at 16 land border crossings, 4 rail crossings, 7 small/regional airports, 2 user fee airports, 4 seaports and numerous small boat reporting stations covering all of New York State, except for New York City.  

Ms. Brophy has over 26 years of experience and began her career working for the examinations branch of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Buffalo, New York. From there, she became an Immigration Inspector and worked in numerous positions at land, air, sea and preclearance ports of entry before she transferred to Customs and Border Protection Headquarters, Washington, DC in 2006.   While stationed at Headquarters, Ms. Brophy managed the implementation of the Model Ports and Global Entry Programs to 20 of the highest volume ports of entry within the United States.  She also established and managed the Carrier Liaison Program responsible for the training and education of airlines on U.S entry requirements, fraudulent document detection and passenger assessment.

Upon her return to Buffalo, New York, Ms. Brophy held the positions of Border Security Coordinator and Acting Assistant Director, Border Security at the Buffalo Field Office working closely with Federal, State and local partners as well as private stakeholders .  In 2014, Ms. Brophy was named Area Port Director of Buffalo, New York where she had oversight of over 740 employees and the busiest Northern border land crossing.  Ms. Brophy and her team successfully piloted Phase II of the Pre Inspection Pilot in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada where armed CBP Officers conducted primary inspections of commercial vehicles in Canada.

Ms. Brophy is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo and the Harvard Kennedy School of Senior Executives in National & International Security.