New Calexico ports director selected

New Calexico ports director selected U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Tuesday that Billy Whitford has been appointed director for the two Calexico, Calif.-area ports of entry on the U.S./Mexico border. Whitford has been acting director since last year.
   Whitford served as assistant ports director heading tactical operations under former director Bonnie Lemert, who is now serving as assistant port director for Trade Operations for the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
   Vince Bond, CBP spokesman, said Whitford was named acting director when Lemert went on a leave of absence late last year. Whitford continued as acting director when Lemert was reassigned to Los Angeles-Long Beach.
   Calexico, located about 125 miles east of San Diego, is a major point of entry for truck freight on the California border with Mexico. CBP inspected more than 17 million vehicles at the area's two border crossings in 2006.