Border Patrol Agent - Entry Level

About the role

The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is hiring immediate entry-level positions for federal law enforcement careers. These roles require prior experience in public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Detect and question individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws.
• Inspect documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented non-citizens and smugglers of non-citizens at or near the borders.
• Maintain surveillance from covert positions, including using infrared scopes during night operations.
• Interpret and follow tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol the international boundary and coastal waterways using various government assets such as vehicles, horses, vessels, watercraft, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.

Requirements

• GL-5: One year of general work experience or a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• GL-7: One year of specialized work experience or a bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, or a full year of graduate-level education in a field of study related to law enforcement.

Qualifications

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age Restriction: Must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday.
• Veterans’ Preference: Eligible for Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA).
• Formal Training: After hire, detailed to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy for approximately six months of intensive instruction.

Benefits

• Annual Base Salary for newly appointed BPAs varies per grade, ranging from $51,632 to $92,912 per year.
• Exceptional benefits include health, dental, and other insurance plans, a generous annual and sick leave program, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan.
• Up to $60,000 in additional incentives, including a $20,000 recruitment incentive and up to $40,000 in retention incentives over the first four years.

Pay

Annual Base Salary for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents varies per grade, as follows: GL-5/GL-7 $51,632- $92,912 per year.

Schedule

U.S. Border Patrol determines duty assignments at the time of offer based on operational needs, which may or may not align with candidates’ first-choice preferences. Relocation may be required.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and other insurance plans.
• A generous annual and sick leave program.
• Participation in the Thrift Savings Plan.

Recruitment Incentive

Newly appointed Border Patrol Agents will be offered up to a $20,000 incentive. The first $10,000 will be paid upon successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy, with the remaining $10,000 awarded for accepting a prioritized location.

Prioritized Locations

• Sierra Blanca, TX
• Presidio, TX
• Sanderson, TX
• Comstock, TX
• Lordsburg, NM
• Freer, TX
• Hebbronville, TX
• Ajo, AZ

Relocation

Relocation may be required. Duty location impacts pay rates; locality pay for federal law enforcement is higher in some locations than others.

Pay Reform Act of 2014

A fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay per the BPA Pay Reform Act of 2014.

Grade Level Progression

• GL-5
• GL-7
• GL-9
• GS-11
• GS-12

Duty Locations

• Big Bend Sector Stations - Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Buffalo Sector Stations - Wellesley Island
• Del Rio Sector Stations - Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass North, Eagle Pass South, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso Sector Stations - Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Ysleta
• El Centro Sector Stations - El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Havre Sector Stations - Havre, Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass
• Jackman, Rangeley, Van Buren
• Laredo Sector Stations - Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Laredo West, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley Sector Stations - Rio Grande City, Fort Brown, McAllen, Brownsville, Falfurrias, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen
• San Diego Sector Stations - Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Spokane Sector Stations - Colville, Curlew, Metaline Falls, Oroville
• Swanton Sector Stations - Beecher Falls, Burke, Champlain, Newport, Richford
• Tucson Sector Stations - Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Brian A Terry, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points Substation, Willcox
• Yuma Sector Stations - Blythe, Yuma, Wellton