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, Federal law enforcement / border security.

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

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Role Overview

Confidential Client is hiring entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL-5 / GL-7 grade levels for full-time, career positions. This role is a federal law enforcement position focused on protecting borders, deterring illicit activity, and supporting national security. The position includes classroom and field training followed by operational assignments; candidates may be assigned to prioritized duty locations and relocation may be required.

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Salary & Incentives

• Annual base salary range (newly appointed BPAs): $51,632 – $92,912 (GL-5 / GL-7).
• Estimated midpoint shown on some listings: ~$96,543 per year (estimate).
• Recruitment incentive: Up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: Up to $40,000 paid over the first four years for qualifying hires.
• Eligible federal benefits include health and dental insurance, generous leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement savings).

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Duty Locations & Assignments

Important: duty assignments are based on operational needs and may include Southwest Border and other mission-critical locations. Relocation may be required. Locality pay varies by location; a fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay per applicable pay rules.

Preferred mission-critical locations include (not exhaustive):

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Del Rio Sector: Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso Sector: Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Ysleta
• El Centro Sector: El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• San Diego Sector: Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Tucson Sector: Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• Yuma Sector: Blythe, Yuma, Wellton
• Plus additional sector and border/port assignments across the country, including remote and rural stations.

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Core Duties & Responsibilities

Typical assignments and responsibilities include:

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration or customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers through surveillance, including night operations using night-vision/infrared equipment.
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry of persons or contraband.
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles as required.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at the GL-5 grade level by meeting one of the following:

• Experience: One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making under stress, ability to learn regulations and methods, and skill gathering information through questioning and observation; OR
• Education: A bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college or university; OR
• Combination: A mix of general work experience and completed college coursework (calculated from your resume and transcripts).

You may qualify at the GL-7 grade level by meeting one of the following:

• Experience: One year of specialized work experience demonstrating sound judgment in firearms use, effective people skills in law enforcement situations, rapid information analysis and decision-making, criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, or military policing; OR
• Education substitution: A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (e.g., GPA ≥ 3.0, class standing, honor society) or one year of relevant graduate-level study (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic technology, etc.); OR
• Combination of experience and education (to be evaluated from submitted documents).

Note: Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11); refer to relevant job announcements for details.

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Other Requirements & Conditions

• 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: This role falls under certain law enforcement retirement provisions. Candidates must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday, except where statutory exceptions apply (e.g., current or prior federal law enforcement service or applicable Veterans’ Preference rules). This requirement is applied in accordance with federal law and related directives.
• Veterans: Veterans’ Preference and certain appointments (e.g., Veterans Recruitment Appointment) may apply and can affect age and hiring rules.
• Background & Vetting: Successful candidates will undergo background investigations, medical and security clearances consistent with federal law enforcement hiring.
• Language & Training: Border Patrol work requires ability to speak and read English; Spanish proficiency is commonly used and training in conversational Spanish is provided during the academy.
• Physical & Training Commitment: Candidates selected will attend an intensive training academy (approximately six months) covering immigration/nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and related subjects.

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What We Look For

• Demonstrated composure and sound judgment in stressful situations.
• Strong observational and interview/questioning skills.
• Commitment to public service, teamwork, and professional conduct.
• Prior experience in public safety, security, military police, corrections, or law enforcement is helpful but not required for entry-level appointment.

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Selection & Next Steps

Selected candidates will be evaluated on submitted application materials, supporting documents (resume, transcripts), and relevant entrance exams and assessments. Recruitment may include prioritized-location incentives and retention payments for qualifying hires.

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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.