**Recruitment Incentive** Newly appointed Border Patrol Agents (as defined in 5 CFR 575.102) will be offered a $20,000 incentive. The first $10,000 to be paid upon successfully completing the academy and the remainder to be paid in full after completing a three-year service agreement. New Agents accepting a prioritized location will be eligible for an additional $10,000 (for a total of $30,000).
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement. You qualify for the GL-5 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One year of general experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that demonstrates the ability to take charge, make sound decisions, and maintain composure in stressful situations; to learn regulations, methods, and techniques through classroom training and/or on-the-job instruction; and the ability to gather concise information through questioning, observation, and examination of documents and records; OR Education Substitution: A bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited or college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of general experience AND successfully completed college education. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. You qualify for the GL-7 grade level if you possess one of the following: Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that shows you have the experience in law enforcement or other responsible work that demonstrates the skills necessary to: Make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms. Deal effectively with people in a courteous and tactful manner in connection with law enforcement matters. Analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions where you will be expected to make arrests after the completion of required training and apply these skills in a law enforcement capacity such as code enforcement, compliance work, corrections, security, military, emergency responders, etc. The above experience will be applied in connection with the Border Patrol Individual Occupational Requirement: Make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of firearms; deal effectively with people in a courteous manner in connection with law enforcement matters; analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions; or develop and maintain contact with a network of informants. Education Substitution: A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0), or (3) honor society membership. Submitted transcripts must show the applicant does not have more than 10% pass/fail courses in order to qualify for SAA with GPA. Go to Superior Academic Achievement to see if you qualify under this provision; OR One full year of graduate level education in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g., criminal justice, homeland security, justice studies, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, forensic technology, forensic psychology, corrections and rehabilitation) or one year of law school from an accredited or college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level AND graduate level education completed in a field of study related to law enforcement from an accredited college or university . This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. More information on the qualifications can be found on our CBP.gov Border Patrol Qualifications Aid If you have previous or current law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at the GL-9 and or GS-11 grade level. Please refer to the BPA GL-9 - 11 announcement: Apply Here! National Service Experience: refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Experience as a CBP Explorer may be qualifying if your resume provides sufficient information to credit your experience. To receive full credit for your experience, please be sure to describe your duties, roles and responsibilities in detail. Background Investigation: This position is a sensitive National Security position and, upon selection, applicants will be required to undergo, and must successfully pass, a Tier 5 investigation or equivalent for placement and retention. For more information, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Background Investigation. Language Proficiency: Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish, as well as English. Agents will be provided training to become proficient with the Spanish language at the academy. Uniform/Grooming Standards: This position requires wearing an officially approved uniform and complying with established grooming standards found here; as established by the Border Patrol's Uniform and Grooming Standards Policy #IOP-5320-02A-UGSBPA. Updated guidance: Please note that in accordance with these standards, tattoos and/or brandings on the head or face are not permitted. Obscene, derogatory and/or gang tattoos or brandings shall not be visible.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS. Being a Border Patrol Agent makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession. Typical assignments include: Detecting and questioning persons suspected of violating immigration and custom laws and inspecting documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations Preventing, and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers of noncitizens 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, watercrafts, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles for the accomplishment of the USBP Mission. Click on this video for more information on what it's like to be a BPA - A Day in the Life of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent Want to speak to an actual Agent? Click here to contact one of our recruiters! They are ready to assist you from application to start date. Salary: Selections from this announcement will be at the GL-5 or GL-7 grade levels with promotion potential to GL-9, GS-11 and GS-12. Promotions are not guaranteed and at the discretion of the agency. Your pay will be determined after you successfully complete all pre-employment processes. Pay rates are based on the 2025 OPM Salary Tables - these tables do not take into consideration any potential overtime earnings, recruitment incentives, location incentives or yearly cost of living increases. Current Federal Employees: Offers will only be made at the GL-5 or GL-7 grade levels. Applying to this GL-5/7 announcement may require you to take a change to lower grade which will reduce your salary based on Federal pay regulations. Grade level re-promotions are at the discretion of the U.S. Border Patrol. Duty Locations: You will be asked to select your preferred location for one of the following mission critical 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 Houlton Sector Stations - Calais, Fort Fairfield, 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 NOTE: The above preference locations are expected to have vacancies available in the future, however, if the duty locations do not have vacancies at the time of your final offer, you may be offered a duty location in another geographic location within the United States. *Additional $10K Recruitment Incentive: Newly appointed Border Patrol Agents who select a prioritized location will receive an additional $10,000 incentive (total of $30,000). Prioritized locations include Sierra Blanca, TX; Presidio, TX; Sanderson, TX; Comstock, TX; Lordsburg, NM; Freer, TX; Hebbronville, TX; Ajo, AZ. All incentive recipients will be required to sign a three-year service agreement. Bargaining Unit: This position is covered under the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC). For more information, visit here. Firearm Proficiency: This position requires you to carry a firearm. Firearm proficiency is required for all Border Patrol Agents and is part of the training provided.