Border Patrol Agent - Experienced

About the role

USBP is hiring immediately for full-time, career positions, where your prior law enforcement officer (LEO) experience may qualify you for higher-graded Border Patrol Agent (BPA) opportunities. Continue making a difference with the nation's premier federal agency charged with securing our borders and protecting our country.

Responsibilities

• Detecting and questioning people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws and inspecting documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations.
• Preventing and apprehending aliens and smugglers of aliens at or near the borders by maintaining surveillance from covert positions to include using infrared scopes during night operations.
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry of persons or contraband.
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling the international boundary and coastal waterways using a variety of government assets such as vehicles, horses, vessels, watercraft, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles for the accomplishment of the USBP Mission.

Qualifications

• GL-9: Performing physical searches of detained individuals, their vehicles, and their immediate surroundings for weapons, contraband, currency, and other evidence.
• GL-9: Apprehending, physically restraining, or working with law enforcement officials to identify or apprehend violators of state, federal, or immigration laws.
• GL-9: Proficient in the use of firearms, preparing investigative reports, serving court orders (e.g., warrants, subpoenas, etc.), and gathering evidence for criminal cases prosecuted through the court system.
• GS-11: Utilizing intelligence information to track illegal operations, criminal activity, threats to our nation, and/or contraband while serving as a state, federal, or military law enforcement official.
• GS-11: Leading investigations of fraud, contraband, criminal activity, threats to our nation, and/or illegal operations to determine sources and patterns while serving as a state, federal, or military law enforcement official.
• GS-11: Apprehending violators of state, federal, or immigration laws by utilizing various forms of complex technology that include surveillance, detection, situation awareness systems, and/or communications equipment.

Benefits

• Base Salary: GL-9/GS-11, $65,545 - $124,717 per year
• Locality Pay: Varies by duty location
• Overtime Pay: Up to 25%
• Additional Incentives: Up to $60,000 in additional incentives for newly appointed Agents (details below)

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.

Pay

• Salary for newly appointed law enforcement Border Patrol Agents varies from: Base Salary: GL-9/GS-11, $65,545 - $124,717 per year
• Locality Pay: Varies by duty location
• Overtime Pay: Up to 25%
• This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression from GL-9 to GS-11 to GS-12.

Benefits

• Affordable health and insurance plans
• A generous annual and sick leave program
• Participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement plan that is similar to traditional and ROTH 401(k) offerings

Incentives

• 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 include Sierra Blanca, TX; Presidio, TX; Sanderson, TX; Comstock, TX; Lordsburg, NM; Freer, TX; Hebbronville, TX; Ajo, AZ.
• Up to $40,000 in additional incentives distributed over their first four years.

Requirements

• Citizenship: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
• Residency: You must have had primary U.S. residency (including protectorates as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years.
• Age Restriction: In accordance with Public Law 100-238, this position is covered under law enforcement retirement provisions. Candidates must be referred for selection to the Border Patrol Agent position before reaching their 40th birthday in accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directive 251-03.
• Veterans’ Preference: You may also be eligible for an excepted service Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA).
• Formal Training: After you are hired, you will be detailed to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico, for approximately six (6) months of intensive instruction in immigration and nationality laws, law enforcement, and USBP-specific operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and other courses.
• Language Requirement: Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish, as well as English. Border Patrol Agents will be provided training to become proficient in the Spanish language at the Academy.