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 (Customs and Border Protection).

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

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Position summary

Confidential Client is recruiting entry‑level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) — GL‑5 / GL‑7 grade levels — for full‑time, career positions across multiple mission‑critical duty locations. This role is field‑facing federal law enforcement work focused on border security, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Competitive pay, federal benefits, and incentive programs (up to $60,000 for eligible hires) are available.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base pay for newly appointed BPAs (GL‑5 / GL‑7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (grade-dependent and subject to locality pay adjustments).
• Up to $20,000 recruitment incentive (first $10,000 upon successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations).
• Eligible for up to $40,000 in retention incentives distributed over the first four years for qualifying hires (total incentive potential up to $60,000).
• Federal benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance options, annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings plan).

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Duty locations

Important: duty assignments are determined at offer based on operational needs and may include Southwest Border prioritized locations. Relocation may be required. Locality pay varies by duty station and can increase total compensation (a fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay under applicable pay reforms).

Preferred mission areas include (examples):

• Big Bend Sector (Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Marfa, Alpine)
• Del Rio Sector (Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde)
• El Paso Sector (El Paso area, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa)
• El Centro Sector (El Centro, Indio, Calexico)
• Tucson Sector (Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas)
• Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Yuma, and additional domestic sectors

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Key duties & responsibilities

As a Border Patrol Agent you will be part of a federal law enforcement workforce charged with protecting the border and enforcing immigration laws. Typical duties include:

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers through surveillance, interdiction, and arrest.
• Conducting patrols by vehicle, foot, horseback, watercraft, off‑road vehicles, ATVs, or other government assets.
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, transportation checks, and city patrols.
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry; documenting and reporting findings.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at GL‑5 if you have one of the following:

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating the ability to take charge, make sound decisions under stress, learn regulations and methods through training, and gather information through questioning and observation; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (four‑year) from an accredited college or university; OR
• A combination of general work experience and college coursework (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

You may qualify at GL‑7 if you have one of the following:

• One (1) year of specialized work experience showing skills such as making sound firearms judgments, dealing tactfully with people in law enforcement contexts, analyzing information quickly, making prompt decisions, and performing arrests after training (examples: criminal code enforcement, security, corrections, military police); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA, class standing, or honor society) OR one year of graduate‑level study in a related field (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic studies, etc.); OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

Note: Applicants with prior federal civilian law enforcement or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL‑9, GS‑11). Those applicants should consult the relevant BPA higher‑grade announcements for details.

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Other requirements & important notices

• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is required.
• Residency: Must have maintained primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates generally must be referred for selection before turning 40 due to law enforcement retirement provisions, unless exempt under specific prior federal civilian law enforcement or Veterans’ Preference rules.
• Formal training: Selected candidates will attend the Border Patrol Academy (approximately six months) for intensive instruction in immigration and nationality law, driver skills, firearms, physical techniques, and USBP‑specific operations. Language training (Spanish) is provided to help agents reach proficiency.
• Veterans: Veterans may be eligible under special hiring authorities (e.g., VRA) and may be exempt from age limits in some cases.
• Background: Position requires passing medical, fitness, background investigation, and any other pre‑employment requirements applicable to federal LEO positions.

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What we look for

• Strong sound judgment and decision‑making under pressure
• Ability to learn and apply federal laws, regulations, and procedures
• Physical fitness and readiness for field patrol duties
• Communication skills and the ability to interact courteously and effectively with diverse communities
• Willingness to relocate and accept mission‑driven assignments

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Why consider this role

• Meaningful, long‑term federal law enforcement career with mission impact
• Competitive compensation, federal benefits, and structured promotion ladder (GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12)
• Significant recruitment and retention incentives for eligible hires
• Training and career development, including language and tactical certifications

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Confidential client & recruitment note

This opportunity is for employment with Confidential Client (federal law enforcement). Careertakes is supporting the candidate sourcing and application matching process as a third‑party recruiter. Applicants may be considered for related opportunities within the Confidential Client’s talent network.

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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.