The Best Place to Start!
Monday, September 22, 2014
Administrative Services Center, 9050 Viscount Blvd.
6:30—6:50
Visual and Performing Arts presentation
7:00—7:05
Welcome
7:05—7:15

Introductions: Angela Kocherga, Belo
KHOU 11, News Border Bureau Chief

Hon. Veronica Escobar, County Judge

Benjamine “Carry” Huffman, Deputy
Chief Patrol Agent, El Paso Sector

Carlos Spector, Attorney at Law
7:15—8:15
Discussion on Border Immigration Issues
8:15—8:30
Questions and Answers
8:30—9:00
Reception
The Visual and Performing Arts Exhibit highlights the history of the
Americas starting from Pre-Columbian times to the Present. The display
features collaborative student work from the Arts, Mass Communication,
and Theatre disciplines. The exhibit will encompass different historical
periods utilizing a combination of visual art, video, and staged readings by
actors in full costume Performers: Destiny Gar cia, Ricar do J imenez,
Hannah McFarling, Ean Nava, and Monica Torres.
Veronica Escobar was sworn in as El Paso County
Judge on January 1, 2011. She works on issues
related to healthcare, border policy, government
consolidation, nature tourism, and economic
development.
Judge Escobar has been active addressing issues
important to border communities. She has testified
2
before the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs and before several Texas state legislative
committees. She has also addressed state-wide and local
organizations about border policy and immigration. During her
tenure, Judge Escobar has focused on internal reforms in county
government that have helped make El Paso County a more
effective, efficient and transparent organization.
Judge Escobar received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 from
the University of Texas at El Paso, and a Master of Arts degree
from New York University in 1993. She has spent her
professional and civic life working for non-profits, in education,
and more recently in local government (she served as
Communications Director for Mayor Raymond C. Caballero from
2001-2003 and as Precinct 2 County Commissioner from 20072010).
Benjamine C. Huffman is the Deputy Chief Patrol
Agent for El Paso Sector headquartered in El Paso,
Texas. He is second in command and responsible
for oversight of more than 125,500 square miles of
territory which consists of the entire State of New
Mexico, El Paso County, and portions of Hudspeth
County, Texas.
Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Huffman entered on duty with the
U.S. Border Patrol on February 3, 1985, as a member of Class
173. His first duty assignment as a Border Patrol agent was at the
Imperial Beach Station in the San Diego Sector. In July 1996, he
was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Office of Intelligence at
U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, DC. He was
instrumental in the development of the Lead Intelligence Agent
position to recruit and retain high-quality intelligence agents,
assisted in the development of a comprehensive five-year
strategic plan for the intelligence program, and was a key
participant in the development of a “top-to-bottom” intelligence
3
training program for officers, supervisors and managers. In May
2000, he was promoted to Patrol Agent in Charge of the Marfa
Station in the Big Bend Sector, where he established Big Bend
Sector’s first Forward Operating Base in Candelaria, Texas, and
developed a land navigation system for the Marfa Station that is
currently used by the Joint Task Force North as a model for other
sectors. In February 2004, he was promoted to Assistant Chief
Patrol Agent at Big Bend Sector Headquarters where he was
responsible for several Border Patrol stations and had oversight
of the Special Operation Unit, Intelligence Unit, and the Training
Unit. He also had oversight over firearms, High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area, recruiting, and was the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement liaison. He was promoted to Deputy Chief
Patrol Agent in May 2007. Deputy Chief Huffman assumed his
current position with El Paso Sector on January 27, 2014.
Throughout his nearly 29 year career, Deputy Chief Huffman has
had numerous temporary duty assignments. Most recently, he
served as the Acting Director, State, Local and Tribal Liaison
under the office of the Commissioner. He was the Acting
Director of the Special Operations Group (SOG). SOG was the
global response team for CPB and consisted of Border Patrol
Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and Border Patrol Search, Trauma and
Rescue Units. In 1987 he became a member of BORTAC and
has served on various missions in the Western Hemisphere
including; Operation Green Blanket, operations in South Africa,
and Operation Snowcap in Bolivia.
Deputy Chief Huffman earned an Associate of Arts Degree in
Criminal Justice at South Plains Junior College in Levelland,
Texas; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Studies from
Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.
4
Carlos Spector is a lawyer and an activist for
immigrant rights. He won the first case in the US
for political asylum of a Mexican. Now, he
continues to take most cases as pro bono. As
people fled the violence in 2008, he carefully
chose cases he thought could be successful,
including journalists, human rights and
community activists. He’s done each case pro bono. More than
just representing refugees in court, Spector and his wife Sandra, a
veteran community organizer, have gone a step further, creating
an organization in El Paso called Mexicans in Exile. The
nonprofit, the first of its kind, raises funds for trauma counseling,
housing, and other refugee needs, as well as arranging speaking
tours so that asylum recipients can educate U.S. residents about
the realities of the drug war.
Angela Kocherga covers the Southwest border and
interior of Mexico on air and online for KVIA and
Belo Television’s 20 stations and three regional
cable networks. She is the only U.S. reporter to
regularly report from Juarez, Mexico’s murder
capital. Her work includes coverage of immigration,
trade and border health issues.
Angela has worked with Belo since 1994. In 1999 Belo’s Houston
station KHOU hired Angela to open a Mexico City Bureau. During
that time she also reported from Mexico’s southern border with
Guatemala, Guatemala City and Havana, Cuba.
In 2006, Belo relocated the bureau from Mexico City to the
Southwest border. Angela is now based in El Paso-Juarez, a
midway point for reporting along the border.
She has earned several journalism awards for her work in Mexico
including two Emmys in 2011 for her coverage of the drug war. She
is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.
5
Hispanic Heritage Committee
Olga Chavez, Diversity Programs ,District Director
Pat
Jaime
Giselle
Al
Rebekah A.
Aida
Kathleen A.
Elvira
Liz
Rene
Mayela
Doroteo
Gabriel S.
Jorge A.
Maria
James K.
Alex
Rudy
Lillie T.
Castañeda
Alejandra
Luz M.
Michael J.
Alma D.
Arturo
Acosta
Aragon
Aragon
Arvizo
Bell
Black
Bombach
Carrizal–Dukes
Chavez
Chavez
Farah
Franco
Gaytan
Gomez
Gutierrez
Heiney
Hernandez
Hernandez
Johnson
Lorena
Nava
Roberts
Thornton
Valadez
Valdespino
Student Ar t & Local Ar tist Display
Administrative Services Center Foyer from September 15 to October 15.
Featuring work by El Paso artists Gabriel S. Gaytán and Frank Rosales and
student work from the class of EPCC art instructor Michael J. Thornton.
6
Upcoming Programs
; Sept. 29, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Mr. Juan Cabrera, Superintendent, El Paso ISD
Dr. Xavier De La Torre, Superintendent, Ysleta ISD
Dr. José Espinoza, Superintendent, Socorro ISD
Dr. Pedro Galaviz, Superintendent, Canutillo ISD
Dr. William Serrata, President, El Paso Community College
: Carina Ramirez, Ph.D., ESL Dept., EPCC
; Oct. 1, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Richard E. Dayoub, CEO, EP Chamber of Commerce
Matthew McElroy, City Development Director
Thomas E. Munsey, Colonel, Ft. Bliss Gar r ison Commander
Rolando Pablos, CEO, Borderplex Alliance
: Roberto Tinajero, UTEP, Institute for Policy and
Economic Development
;
Ken Miyagishima, Mayor , Las Cr uces, New Mexico
Courtney Niland, Mayor Pr o Tem, City Rep., Distr ict 8
Enrique Serrano, Mayor , J uar ez, Chihuahua, Mexico
; Oct. 8, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Lucy G. Acosta, Founder and developer of Project Amistad
Dr. Lucy Scarbrough, Noted pianist, composer, educator & leader
Honorable Paul C. Moreno, Longest serving Hispanic legislator
Denise Chávez , Author, playwright, stage director, actor & teacher
Mentor’s Dinner tickets are $25.00, seating is limited and tickets will
not be sold at the door. Purchase your ticket(s) online at
www.epcc.edu/hispanicheritage.
7
Special Thanks
William Serrata, Ph.D.
EPCC President
Ernst E. Roberts II, Ph.D.
EPCC Vice President of Administration & Financial Operations
Olga Chavez, M.A., LPC
Diversity Programs District Director
Doroteo Franco,
Diversity Program, Assistant Director
Aida Black
Administrative Associate
Phone: 915-831-3324
Fax: 915-831-3326
www.epcc.edu/diversityprograms
www.epcc.edu/hispanicheritage
Sponsors
The El Paso County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
8