Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Bella Martínez, whose real name is Isabel Patricia Vázquez retired in March 2019 from the Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as Chief of the National Emergency Management Division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Prior to that, she led the HSI Tip Line in Burlington, Vermont. In 1994, Isabel began her civilian career as a Customs Inspector and subsequently was a Customs Agent in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Isabel was the Chief Intelligence Officer for the SAC Intelligence Program (SIP), HSI; San Juan, Puerto Rico. From that position, she led the Intelligence Research Specialists assigned to the San Juan SIP, the focal point for all intelligence support requirements of the Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Ms. Vázquez joined the ICE-Office of Intelligence with an extensive background in federal law enforcement. Ms. Vázquez entered the United States Customs Service in 1993 and served as a Customs Inspector until 1998. While assigned at the Office of Field Operations, she served as an instructor assigned both at FLETC, and at the satellite facility in Charleston, SC.

During her tenure with the Office of Investigations, she led teams of Special Agents and effectively managed a diverse workforce conducting highly sensitive and complex criminal investigations; and trained Special Agents to collect and analyze operational and strategic enforcement intelligence. At the same time, she served in other capacities, such as Recruiter, Public Affairs Officer (PAO) for the SAC Caribbean, and managed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program portfolio.

During the merge of the Legacy Agencies, which was leading to the shaping of ICE; she was detailed as Program Manager assigned to ICE Headquarters (HQ) supporting the National Security and Threat Protection (NSTP) Unit. From 2007 to 2008, she was detailed as Operations Manager assigned to ICE Headquarters (HQ) supporting Operations East; where she managed the SAC San Juan desk serving as the link between the Special Agent in Charge and Headquarters, as well as other federal agencies to include the Department of Defense.

During her tenure as CIO San Juan, she was also the Senior DHS Representative for Intelligence matters embedded with the Government of Mexico (GoM) as the ICE liaison to the “Secretaría de Seguridad Pública” (SSP). While stationed at the “Centro de Inteligencia” within the “Secretaría de Seguridad Pública”, she planned and directed broad investigations of national and international scope. During her assignment as ICE liaison to SSP she led all planning, organizing, administering, and coordinating of the full spectrum of investigative activities worked from the “Centro de Inteligencia”.

In 2011 Isabel retired from the United States Air Force Reserve as an Air Force Logistics Officer and National Account Manager at Headquarters Defense Logistics Agency in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Isabel began her military career in 1990 as a Chaplaincy Assistant at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.

In her role as cultural manager and curator, she has published research material and the book Un conguero para la historia, las memorias de Jimmie Morales; in addition to having edited and produced translations on musical, historical and cultural identity; among them Ray Barretto, Giant Force and A conguero’s conguero, A Memoir of Jimmie Morales as told to Bella Martínez.

Ms. Vázquez has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Sciences (Math) from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus; and a Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration and Quantitative Methods from Central Michigan University.