Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Training
References
Timeline
Generic

Sonja Velasco

Chula Vista

Summary

Dedicated Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer with a proven track record in overseeing operations, mentoring teams, and driving compliance. Expertise in conflict resolution and performance evaluation ensures optimal port operations.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

SUPERVISORY Customs and Border Protectsenger Operations/Admissibility Enforcement Operations

U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Dept. of Homeland Security
San Diego
07.2023 - Current

Overseeing and supervising approximately 15-30 officers in an assigned area of operation to ensure port operations are running as needed to create a consistent flow of traffic while overseeing apprehensions

  • Detected and seized contraband during thorough border inspections.
  • Conducted interviews with travelers to assess risk and verify documentation.
  • Prepared detailed reports on inspection findings and enforcement actions taken.
  • Performed inspections of arriving and departing passengers, cargo and baggage to detect prohibited or restricted items.
  • Identified fraudulent documents used in attempts to gain illegal entry into the country.
  • Briefing higher management on conflicts and ways to resolve conflicts relevant to our agency’s mission as a whole
  • Supervising and evaluating work activities regarding inspection and examination
  • Coaching and mentoring employees while planning scheduling work on a daily basis
  • Carrying out assignments, projects, or investigations intended to explore or resolve operations
  • Interpreting laws and regulations relating to the admissibility of people, cargo, and conveyances
  • Evaluating employee’s performance and conduct while resolving disciplinary actions
  • Evaluating new officers’ primary inspections while offering tools and recommendations on efficiency and accuracy
  • Adjudicating Immigration applications and updated system records such as CIS and Claims verifying the validity of the information
  • Conducting secondary inspections of referrals from primary inspections through interviews and database queries
  • Performing interviews, examine documentation, and carry out security checks (regarding terrorism, criminality, and/or other illegality) of individuals seeking to enter the United States
  • Processing arrivals of persons, conveyances, and merchandise at the largest land port of entry in the United States
  • Briefing higher management to determine case dispositions related to immigration detentions
  • Overseeing cell checks for detainees under the care and custody of Admissibility Enforcement Unit
  • (this is a federal job) salary: $132,420.00 USD annually. hours per week: 40-60

CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT– Customs and Border Protection Criminal Enforcement Officer

U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Dept. of Homeland Security
San Diego
08.2013 - 07.2023
  • Company Overview: (this is a federal job) salary: $103,244.00 USD annually. hours per week: 40-60
  • Investigating and prosecuting subjects in violation of criminal law in accordance with policies and procedures
  • Conducting investigations on Human Trafficking organizations by forming operations in high human smuggling locations in San Diego and investigation Port of Entry human smuggling events
  • Conducted investigations on state prosecution narcotics crimes
  • Conducted criminal investigations from subjects in violation of 8 United States Code (USC) 1326- re-entry After Deportation, 8 USC 1324, - Alien Smuggling and 8 USC 1544- Fraud/Misuse of Passport
  • Working closely and enhancing the relationship with partner agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), US Marshalls and US Attorney’s office to target specific threats
  • Securing evidence, interviewing suspects and witnesses to prepare prosecution packets in compliance with local court procedures
  • Providing advice and technical assistance to US Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies on matters related to CBP’s mission, policies, procedures
  • Performing anti-fraud duties by interviewing and prosecuting subjects utilizing counterfeit documents, or subjects coaching people to withhold information or be untruthful
  • Conducted interviews on suspects and witnesses to gather and collect information for preparing reports and court documents for criminal charges
  • Detecting deceptive responses and eliciting information from subjects to analyze responses in support of general criminal and administrative actions
  • Performed federal, state and local law enforcement related database queries
  • Prepared reports in support of criminal or administrative actions
  • Facilitating information between CBP and Mexican foreign counterparts to target crime abroad from US and Mexican citizens
  • Relaying intel from smuggling cases to appropriate special units for further analysis and interdictions
  • Targeting, screening and vetting individuals that may be related to smuggling using computer analysis systems accesses such as Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS), Central Index System (CIS), National Crime and Information Center (NCIC), Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), and Person Centric Query Service (PCQS)
  • Performing Enforcement Operations to identify criminal activity inland related to unwitting subjects smuggling people into the United States
  • Collecting, analyzing information and evidence such as phones, computers, vehicles, property in support of criminal and administrative actions
  • (this is a federal job) salary: $103,244.00 USD annually. hours per week: 40-60

ADMISSIBILITY ENFORCEMENT UNIT – Admissibility Enforcement Officer

U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Dept. of Homeland Security
01.2016 - 12.2019
  • Prepare responses to inquiries from peers and management regarding existing immigration enforcement and anti-fraud actions
  • Utilize attention to detail and extensive knowledge in SIGMA, CIS, CLAIMS, CSIS, SEVIS, ATS and TECS systems which allow me to add and create events related to customs seizures, immigration adverse actions, and administrative adverse actions
  • Create case files, creating fins numbers, and booking/creating FBI records on subjects based on the applicable violation of law
  • Analyzing immigration laws, policies, and precedent decisions
  • Analyzing information and documents to determine credibility and eligibility for immigration benefits
  • Writing final determinations with legal analysis to support decisions and assist with immigration process
  • Coordinating with ICE, Enforcement Removal Officers to transport detainees to other detention facilities, or prepared parole from port of entry
  • Serving as technical expert in immigration violation determinations

Education

Associate of Science - Paralegal Studies

PHOENIX COLLEGE
Phoenix, AZ
05.2010

CRIMINAL JUSTICE -

California State University San Bernardino
Palm Desert, CA

Skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Strong communication skills
  • Basic Spanish fluency
  • Expert in Word
  • Expert in Excel
  • Interview techniques
  • Contraband identification
  • Customs regulations
  • Anti-terrorism measures
  • Passenger screening
  • Border security
  • Cross-cultural sensitivity
  • Flexible to learn and apply new changes
  • Criminal investigation
  • Fraud detection
  • Effective communication
  • Conflict resolution

Training

  • Customs and Border Protection Basic Training, 02/25/14
  • Customs and Border Protection Spanish Academy, 04/08/14
  • Customs and Border Protection Basic Honor Guard Academy, 07/19/17
  • Customs and Border Protection Supervisory Training and Detail, 08/19/18, 12/08/18
  • Admissibility Enforcement Unit (Adverse Actions) 90 Day Detail, 07/11/15
  • Admissibility Enforcement Unit (Adverse Actions) 60 Day Detail, 03/20/16
  • Detecting Deceptive and Eliciting Responses - 3-day Training, 05/2022
  • Advanced Enforcement Operations Training Program (AEOTP), 07/2020
  • Essential Supervisory Skills Training, 09/2023
  • Supervisory Leadership Training - 3 Weeks, 06/2024

References

  • Eric Crouston, US Customs and Border Protection, National Honor Guard Commander-Program Manager, 619-250-2929, ERIC.CROUSTON@CBP.DHS.GOV
  • Jeffrey Sianko, Front Porch Communities, Vice President, 626-688-5160, JSIANKO@FRONTPORCH.NET

Timeline

SUPERVISORY Customs and Border Protectsenger Operations/Admissibility Enforcement Operations

U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Dept. of Homeland Security
07.2023 - Current

ADMISSIBILITY ENFORCEMENT UNIT – Admissibility Enforcement Officer

U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Dept. of Homeland Security
01.2016 - 12.2019

CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT– Customs and Border Protection Criminal Enforcement Officer

U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Dept. of Homeland Security
08.2013 - 07.2023

Associate of Science - Paralegal Studies

PHOENIX COLLEGE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE -

California State University San Bernardino

Similar Profiles

  • Danielle Hodge-FoleyDanielle Hodge-Foley

    Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBPSupervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP

  • Beverley DoeBeverley Doe

    Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer at Customs and Border ProtectionSupervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer at Customs and Border Protection

  • DAVID M RAMIREZDAVID M RAMIREZ

    Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer at U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionSupervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  • Neeraj GargNeeraj Garg

    <ul><li>Company Overview: Group Company of PUIG, Spain</li><li>Team Leadership & Process Excellence: Organised the transformation of the Finance & Accounts function, establishing performance-driven goals, and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Drove operational efficiency through process redesigns, SOP implementation and optimal resource deployment, leading to measurable improvements in turnaround time and accuracy.</li><li>Strategic Partnering with CXOs: Acted as a key advisor to the CEO, CFO, and other CXOs on business planning, pricing strategies, and business model pivots to support scale-up and profitability. Contributed to investor communications with data-backed insights to enhance stakeholder confidence and secure strategic funding.</li><li>Cross-Functional & Global Stakeholder Management: Functioned as the strategic finance business partner to cross-functional heads and the PUIG global finance team, aligning local execution with global financial strategies and compliance requirements.</li><li>ERP Transformation & System Automation: Led end-to-end ERP reimplementation to address system gaps, enforce role-based controls, and automate core finance processes—resulting in enhanced data accuracy, faster reporting and improved internal controls.</li><li>Costing, Inventory & Profitability Optimization: Designed and implemented plant-level costing models to ensure accurate COGS determination. Improved inventory management across pricing, consumption tracking, and aging analysis—enabling better working capital control and cost efficiency.</li><li>Manufacturing Finance & Statutory Compliance: Supervised end-to-end accounting for manufacturing operations and ensured full statutory compliance.</li><li>Financial Reporting, MIS & Profitability Analytics: Delivered accurate and timely monthly MIS reports, including P&L, Balance Sheet and KPI dashboards with deep-dive variance analysis across stores, business verticals, and geographies. Supported board-level decision-making through insightful presentations on financial health and business performance.</li><li>Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Planning: Led the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and rolling forecasts, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and market dynamics. Monitored key financial metrics to enable business decisions and proactive cost management.</li><li>Statutory, Internal & Tax Audit Management: Finalized standalone and consolidated financials under Ind AS and IFRS, ensured timely group reporting and compliance with international standards. Delivered clean and timely closures of statutory, tax, and internal audits in coordination with Big 4 auditors. Strengthened audit readiness through pre-audit diagnostics and rectification of recurring control gaps.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Ensured end-to-end compliance which includes ROC, RBI, FEMA, Income Tax, GST, Transfer Pricing, DTAA, and Customs. Reviewed cross-border contracts and transactions to ensure arm’s length pricing, accurate TDS application, and proper documentation under Transfer Pricing regulations.</li><li>Commercial Negotiation & Contract Governance: Led commercial negotiations and structured deals with vendors and franchisees. Reviewed key business contracts to ensure financial viability, risk protection, and compliance with regulatory standards.</li><li>Treasury & External Commercial Borrowing (ECB): Managed fund planning and liquidity management including ECB drawdowns, bank negotiations, and interest optimization. Improved working capital cycles through proactive cash flow forecasting and receivables control.</li><li>Internal Controls & Governance Framework: Led organization-wide reviews of internal control systems, identified process gaps, and redesigned or implemented over 40 SOPs and IFCs. Established a governance structure for financial discipline, risk mitigation, and policy compliance across departments.</li></ul> at Kama Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd. & PUIG India Pvt. Ltd.<ul><li>Company Overview: Group Company of PUIG, Spain</li><li>Team Leadership & Process Excellence: Organised the transformation of the Finance & Accounts function, establishing performance-driven goals, and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Drove operational efficiency through process redesigns, SOP implementation and optimal resource deployment, leading to measurable improvements in turnaround time and accuracy.</li><li>Strategic Partnering with CXOs: Acted as a key advisor to the CEO, CFO, and other CXOs on business planning, pricing strategies, and business model pivots to support scale-up and profitability. Contributed to investor communications with data-backed insights to enhance stakeholder confidence and secure strategic funding.</li><li>Cross-Functional & Global Stakeholder Management: Functioned as the strategic finance business partner to cross-functional heads and the PUIG global finance team, aligning local execution with global financial strategies and compliance requirements.</li><li>ERP Transformation & System Automation: Led end-to-end ERP reimplementation to address system gaps, enforce role-based controls, and automate core finance processes—resulting in enhanced data accuracy, faster reporting and improved internal controls.</li><li>Costing, Inventory & Profitability Optimization: Designed and implemented plant-level costing models to ensure accurate COGS determination. Improved inventory management across pricing, consumption tracking, and aging analysis—enabling better working capital control and cost efficiency.</li><li>Manufacturing Finance & Statutory Compliance: Supervised end-to-end accounting for manufacturing operations and ensured full statutory compliance.</li><li>Financial Reporting, MIS & Profitability Analytics: Delivered accurate and timely monthly MIS reports, including P&L, Balance Sheet and KPI dashboards with deep-dive variance analysis across stores, business verticals, and geographies. Supported board-level decision-making through insightful presentations on financial health and business performance.</li><li>Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Planning: Led the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and rolling forecasts, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and market dynamics. Monitored key financial metrics to enable business decisions and proactive cost management.</li><li>Statutory, Internal & Tax Audit Management: Finalized standalone and consolidated financials under Ind AS and IFRS, ensured timely group reporting and compliance with international standards. Delivered clean and timely closures of statutory, tax, and internal audits in coordination with Big 4 auditors. Strengthened audit readiness through pre-audit diagnostics and rectification of recurring control gaps.</li><li>Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Ensured end-to-end compliance which includes ROC, RBI, FEMA, Income Tax, GST, Transfer Pricing, DTAA, and Customs. Reviewed cross-border contracts and transactions to ensure arm’s length pricing, accurate TDS application, and proper documentation under Transfer Pricing regulations.</li><li>Commercial Negotiation & Contract Governance: Led commercial negotiations and structured deals with vendors and franchisees. Reviewed key business contracts to ensure financial viability, risk protection, and compliance with regulatory standards.</li><li>Treasury & External Commercial Borrowing (ECB): Managed fund planning and liquidity management including ECB drawdowns, bank negotiations, and interest optimization. Improved working capital cycles through proactive cash flow forecasting and receivables control.</li><li>Internal Controls & Governance Framework: Led organization-wide reviews of internal control systems, identified process gaps, and redesigned or implemented over 40 SOPs and IFCs. Established a governance structure for financial discipline, risk mitigation, and policy compliance across departments.</li></ul> at Kama Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd. & PUIG India Pvt. Ltd.

CREATE PROFILE
Sonja Velasco