Customs and Border Protection Officer

About the role

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is one of the world’s largest law enforcement organizations and the largest federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security. CBP secures the nation's borders from terrorism, human/drug smuggling, illegal migration, agricultural pests, and enforces legitimate travel and trade. Employees exemplify the core values of Vigilance, Service to Country, and Integrity. As a Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO) you will be a member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession, performing full‑time entry‑ and mid‑level career work where education or prior public‑safety, security, military police, or law enforcement experience may qualify.

Responsibilities

• Enforcing customs, immigration, and agriculture law and regulations
• Enforcing the flow of legitimate trade and travel
• Conducting inspections of individuals and conveyances
• Determining the admissibility of individuals for entry into the United States
• Preventing the illegal entry of individuals and prohibited goods and the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband

Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency (including protectorates) for at least three of the last five years
• Age restriction: Must be referred for selection before reaching the 40th birthday (exceptions apply for current or former federal civilian law‑enforcement covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or 8412(d), and for Veterans’ Preference eligible applicants)
• Veterans’ Preference: Eligible for an excepted‑service Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA); age restriction does not apply if VRA‑eligible
• Formal training: 103‑day basic law‑enforcement instruction at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA; possible Spanish‑language training for certain duty locations
• Entrance exam: Applicants selected at the GS‑5 or GS‑7 grade levels must complete and pass the CBP Officer Entrance Exam
• Direct Hire Authority: This announcement uses Direct Hire Authority; Veterans’ Preference and traditional rating/ranking do not apply, but veterans and military spouses are considered equally with all other candidates

Qualifications

Positions are filled at the GS‑5, GS‑7, or GS‑9 grade levels, with promotion potential to GS‑11 and GS‑12.

• GS‑5: 3 years of general experience (1 year equivalent to GS‑4) OR a conferred bachelor’s degree OR a combination of experience and education.
• GS‑7: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑6 (inspections, observational techniques, applying laws/regulations, making determinations leading to arrests/seizures/fines) OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (class standing, GPA ≥ 3.0, honor society, ≤10% pass/fail) OR one year of graduate‑level education OR a combination of specialized experience and graduate education.
• GS‑9: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS‑8 (detaining/arresting violators, enforcing import/export laws, using intelligence/behavior analysis, conducting law‑enforcement interviews) OR a conferred master’s (or higher) degree, two+ years of progressively higher graduate education, or an LL.B./J.D. OR a combination of specialized experience and graduate education beyond the first 18 semester hours.

Skills

• Knowledge of CBP laws, regulations, precedents, processes, techniques, activities, and law‑enforcement procedures for arrival/departure of persons, conveyances, and merchandise
• Knowledge of proper law‑enforcement methods including interrogating, searching, seizing, arresting, and self‑defense for apprehension of terrorists, aliens, or others suspected of illegal activity
• Ability to make rapid, accurate judgments and decisions regarding application of regulations, instructions, and procedures for importing, exporting, or administering laws relating to rights to enter, reside in, or depart from the United States
• Ability to control imports and exports to detect and prevent smuggling and fraud
• Ability to perform primary inspection by questioning and observing individuals

Benefits

• Health, dental, and other insurance plans
• Generous annual and sick leave program
• Participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement plan akin to a traditional ROTH 401(k))
• Recruitment incentive: up to $15,000 per year for selecting a prioritized location; service contract of three years for the first location list or four years for the second location list.
• Prioritized locations (three‑year contract): Arizona – Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales, San Luis; California – Calexico; Hawaii – Honolulu; Maine – Eastport; Montana – Raymond, Roosville; New Mexico – Columbus; New York – Alexandria Bay, Champlain, Massena, Trout River; North Dakota – Dunseith, Portal; Texas – Eagle Pass; Washington – Blaine.
• Prioritized locations (four‑year contract): California – Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, Tecate; Florida – Key West; Maine – Calais, Houlton, Jackman, Madawaska, Van Buren, Vanceboro; Minnesota – Grand Portage, International Falls; Montana – Sweetgrass; North Dakota – Pembina; Texas – Presidio; Vermont – Beecher Falls, Derby Line, Highgate Springs, Norton, Richford; Washington – Oroville.