Mr. Victor Avila is a retired Supervisory Special Agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ICE-HSI is responsible for investigating crimes pertaining to immigration, trade, customs, and border security that threaten the security of the American Homeland. While serving with ICE-HSI, Victor personally led criminal investigations of human traffickers, drug smugglers, and violent criminals. During his time with ICE-HSI, Victor also served as an accredited diplomat to Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. Victor advised these governments on complex and wide-ranging criminal investigations. While on official assignment in Mexico, Special Agent Avila suffered multiple gunshot wounds and survived a violent ambush by the Mexican Los Zetas drug cartel where Special Agent Jaime Zapata tragically lost his life.
Mr. Avila began his law enforcement career as a United States Probation Officer for the U.S. Courts and as a District Parole Officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at El Paso while focusing on the identity of Hispanic Americans along the border.