Border Patrol Agent (Reemployed Annuitant)

About the role

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, throughout all USBP Sectors listed in the announcement. The salary reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection. There is no recruitment incentive associated with this job announcement.

Duties

• Use expertise to prevent illegal entry of aliens into the United States by land, water, or air.
• Enforce criminal provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Laws.
• Seek out and apprehend smugglers or aliens who are in the United States illegally.
• Detect and question persons suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers of noncitizens at or near the borders by maintaining surveillance from covert positions, including using infrared scopes during night operations.
• Interpret and follow tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry of persons or contraband.
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol the international boundary and coastal waterways using a variety of Government assets such as vehicles, horses, vessels, watercrafts, off‑road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.
• Support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force for up to one year upon onboarding, then transition back to support CBP.

Benefits

• Availability of a salary offset waiver, allowing you to retain your full retirement annuity and full salary while re‑employed.
• Expedited pre‑employment process.
• Accelerated re‑entry training conducted at the sector.

Pay

This position starts at a salary of $91,985.00 (GS‑12, Step 1) to $119,583.00 (GS‑12, Step 10), with possible locality adjustments.

Schedule

• Requires regular and recurring shift work; willingness to work rotating shifts.
• May be rotated between assignments and duty locations.
• Overtime may be required on a daily basis, compensated up to an additional 25% of base pay per the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014.
• Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• All pre‑employment processes conducted in English.
• May be required to pass a background investigation.
• CBP follows the DHS Drug‑Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
• Must be under the age of 59 to be considered; law enforcement positions in the GS‑1800 occupational group are subject to mandatory separation at age 60.
• Who May Apply: Retired Border Patrol Agents who have retired from USBP within the past five (5) years, meet reinstatement eligibility per 5 CFR 315.401, have passed the Border Patrol Academy and post‑Academy, completed probationary/trial period, have satisfactory or pass performance appraisals during the last three years of federal employment, were separated voluntarily with no disciplinary action in the last three years and no pending disciplinary proceedings, and held a competitive permanent position at the Full Performance Level of GS‑12. Retired applicants will not be referred until they have been retired one (1) year.
• Term Appointment: Filled on a term basis not‑to‑exceed (NTE) 1/20/2029 or your 60th birthday, whichever occurs first; minimum appointment is one year. If you turn 60 within one year, you are not eligible.

Qualifications

• Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized experience in law enforcement or other responsible work demonstrating the ability to:
  • Make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of firearms;
  • Deal effectively with individuals or groups in a courteous, tactful manner in connection with law enforcement matters;
  • Analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions or take prompt and appropriate law enforcement action in light of applicable laws, court decisions, and sound law enforcement procedures;
  • Develop and maintain contact with a network of informants.
• GS‑12 grade level: One year of specialized work experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level showing skills to interpret and enforce immigration or comparable laws, rules, and regulations; perform intelligence, prosecutions, investigations, and anti‑smuggling; identify operational problems, devise solutions, ensure compliance of enforcement and operational practices, and apprise management of deficiencies or noted problems.
• OPM must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees; disclosure required if you are or have been within the last 5 years a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non‑career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch.
• If applying to the Special Operations Group (SOG), additional requirements include:
  • Obtain a Secret clearance.
  • BORTAC Certification – successful completion of the nationally recognized BORTAC Selection and Certification Courses.
  • BORSTAR Certification – successful completion of the nationally recognized BORSTAR Selection and Certification Courses.
  • Language Requirement: Proficiency in Spanish (able to speak and read).
  • Firearms Requirement: Meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
• Disqualifiers: Any applicant with a background including any of the following is ineligible:
  • Convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year;
  • Has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice;
  • Unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance;
  • Adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution;
  • Illegally or unlawfully present in the United States;
  • Renounced U.S. citizenship;
  • Subject to a court‑ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child;
  • Convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.
• Experience includes paid and unpaid work, volunteer service (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps), and other organizations; volunteer experience is credited.
• Must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable, and all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band) by 02/26/2027.
• Shift Work/Overtime: Must be willing and available to work rotating shifts; possible daily overtime compensated up to an additional 25% of base pay.
• Travel: Overnight travel may be required on a regular and recurring basis.
• Uniform/Grooming Standards: Must wear an officially approved uniform and comply with grooming standards (see Policy #IOP‑5320‑02A‑UGSBPA); tattoos/brandings on head and face not permitted; obscene, racially/ethnically derogatory, or gang tattoos/brandings shall not be visible.
• Motor Vehicle Operation: Must possess the ability to operate a Government Owned Vehicle; a valid driver’s license is required.