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Danny Contreras speaks at his promotion ceremony.
Superior High School graduate Patrick D. Contreras recently earned a major promotion within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He has earned the position of as a Field Office Director (Senior Executive Service) for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston, Texas as of March 2016.
In this position, he directs and executes oversight of immigration enforcement operations in 54 Texas counties which encompasses most of the Gulf Coast. In addition to the field office in Houston, the office is supported by four sub-offices. The Field Office consists of 262 employees and manages over 2,300 detention beds. The Houston Office has the most active Criminal Alien Program which is responsible for all releases from the Texas prison systems and a dynamic 287g program at the fourth largest county in the nation. There are only 12 people who serve in these positions in the entire federal employment system, roughly one percent of the federal personnel.
Danny with his parents Patrick Sr. and Josie Contreras of Superior
Contreras credits the success within his career to the work ethic of his parents, Patrick Sr. and Josie Contreras, and the community of Superior.
“My mom owned one of the local beauty shops,” he said. “There was no way to get away with anything, that taught me honesty and integrity. My parents also taught me about how to treat people right.”
He began his career working in the mine, where he not only saw how hard the miners worked but also worked right along with them. When the mine closed in 1982 he changed career paths and worked as a private security guard then he moved on to be a detention officer with the state prison in Florence. He has fond memories of working with Mike Fernandez, Willy Guerra and Ralph Cervantes.
“They showed me work ethic and also also encouraged me to try different things in my career,” he said.
Danny Contreras, in the center of the photo, speaks at his promotion ceremony.
Patrick began his career with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in December 1985 in Florence, Arizona as an Immigration Detention Officer with the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). In 1990, he was promoted to the position of a Deportation Officer in Los Angeles, California. He worked in Los Angeles during the race riots and he determined that living there was not the quality of life he wanted to live in.
“During the race riots there were no cars on the freeway,” he said. “That is not normal for Los Angeles.”
In August 1993, he transferred to Phoenix, Arizona as a Deportation Officer until he was promoted in November 1995 to the position of Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer in Portland, Oregon. He later transferred back to Phoenix, Arizona in August 1997. While in Phoenix, he served as the acting Deputy Assistant District Director, which covered the states of Arizona and Nevada. In December 2002, he was promoted as the Assistant Officer in Charge at the Florence Detention Center (FDC) in Florence, Arizona. He remained at FDC until his promotion to the position of Assistant Field Office Director in Phoenix, Arizona in August 2008.
Arizona remained the home base for he and his family during his career. He and his wife Roberta were active in the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and many other community organizations while they lived here.
Contreras was temporarily promoted as the Deputy Assistant Director for Information Resource Management at ICE Headquarters in Washington, DC from October 2009 until September 2010. In 2013, he was promoted to the Deputy Field Officer Director in Dallas, Texas. He has worked under the policies and direction of five different presidential administrations.
“Despite the rhetoric, we enforce the laws as the are governed in the law books,” he explained. Over the years some of the policies and procedures have changed but overall the laws that govern their actions have remained the same.
His advice to others: “Enjoy what you are doing,” he said. “It is normal to not know what you are doing. Don’t be afraid to be a busboy, talk to people.”
He had never imagined that he would advance as in his career like he has, he has much respect for the role his faith, family, friends, mentors and community have played in his life. He recommends surrounding yourself with good people and good things happen to you.
“It is like the old saying: Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you your future,” he said.
His career has taken him all over the United States and throughout the world, which he said “has not been easy on my family.” He praised his wife Roberta for her steadfast loyalty, love and support over their twenty one years of marriage.
“We didn’t always have a plan for how my career would take go, but we we always prayed and asked God for his direction,” he said.
Danny, Roberta and their five children.
Danny and Roberta have five children; Patrick Jr., Gabrielle, Victoria, Marcos and Monique.
“Roberta keeps our family running. It would probably be easier for her to work outside the home,” he observed.
Once he has served 35 years for the federal government, he will have to retire. When he retires he plans to spend more time with his children, “embarrass them a little,” he said. He also plans to work on his photography and volunteer more in the church. “I really want to have the time to be one the men who open the doors at the church and greet people,” he said.
When he lived in Superior he also served his as the Vice Mayor of the Town of Superior, from 2001 to 2005.
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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