About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Legal.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Overview

Confidential client is hiring entry-level Border Patrol Agents for a long-term federal law enforcement career. These are full-time, career-track positions where prior experience in public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement may qualify. Successful candidates will complete intensive academy training and join a mission-focused team performing border security, surveillance, and enforcement activities across mission-critical locations.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary range (newly appointed BPA, GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 - $92,912 per year
• Up to $60,000 in additional incentives:
  • Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid after academy completion; additional $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations)
  • Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years
• Federal benefits package including health and dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings)
• Eligibility for locality adjustments and career-ladder promotions (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12) based on time-in-grade and performance

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Duty Locations & Travel

• Duty assignments are determined at the time of offer based on operational needs and may include Southwest Border and other mission-critical sectors. Relocation may be required.
• Prioritized duty locations (examples) may include: Sierra Blanca, Presidio, Sanderson, Comstock, Lordsburg, Freer, Hebbronville, Ajo — duty location affects pay (locality and law-enforcement adjustments).
• Expect varied operational environments and potential travel as required by mission needs.

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Duties & Responsibilities

Typical assignments include, but are not limited to:

• Detecting and questioning people suspected of violating immigration or customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers; conducting covert surveillance (including night operations)
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrolling boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, watercraft, and motorcycles as required

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Qualifications

You may qualify at the GL-5 grade level if you have one of the following:

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, and the ability to learn regulations and procedures; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (or successful completion of a full four-year course of study); OR
• A combination of general work experience and college education (will be evaluated via resume and transcripts)

You may qualify at the GL-7 grade level if you have one of the following:

• One (1) year of specialized work experience showing ability to make sound judgments on firearms use; deal effectively with people in law-enforcement contexts; analyze information quickly and make prompt decisions (examples: criminal enforcement, corrections, security, military); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate-level study in fields like criminal justice, homeland security, forensic technology, etc.; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated via resume and transcripts)

Note: Applicants with prior federal or military law-enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (e.g., GL-9, GS-11). Experience will be verified and applied to grade determination.

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Other Requirements & Training

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates must generally be referred before reaching their 40th birthday per federal LEO retirement rules; certain exceptions apply for prior qualifying federal civilian law-enforcement service or veterans’ preference eligibilities.
• Veterans: Veterans may be eligible for excepted-service appointments and certain age exceptions.
• Training: Selected candidates will attend approximately six months of academy training (location: Artesia, NM or the client’s designated academy) covering law, operations, driver training, physical techniques, and firearms. Language training (Spanish proficiency) is provided as required.
• Screening: Hiring includes multiple background checks, medical and fitness evaluations, and an entrance exam; final hiring decisions rest with the client.

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Summary of Opportunity

This is an entry-level federal law enforcement opportunity with structured career progression, competitive federal pay, comprehensive benefits, and significant hiring incentives for well-qualified candidates willing to serve in mission-critical locations. Candidates should be prepared for intensive training, potential relocation, and duties that include physical, tactical, and investigative work.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.