EL PASO, Texas, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Luis Garcia, director of field enforcement for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the El Paso, Texas, sector, plans to retire Nov. 16.
Garcia's retirement comes in the midst of an investigation into a Mexican businessman who was allowed to re-enter the United States 76 times after being diagnosed with a dangerous form of tuberculosis, The Washington Times reports.
The newspaper says there also are claims Garcia ordered border agents to limit screening when lines at checkpoints backed up and did not provide proper scrutiny for applicants for extended stay visas.
Garcia denies any laxness and says his retirement was a personal decision.
"I will never sacrifice the security of our country to facilitate trade or commerce. I've never wavered from that," he said. "My wife has frequently questioned the limited financial benefit of continuing to work, but I did so because of the love of the job and my commitment to public service."
