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 (a federal law enforcement agency) is hiring entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA). This full-time, career-track role involves protecting U.S. borders, detecting and apprehending illegal entry and contraband, and conducting patrol and surveillance operations. Successful candidates will attend an intensive federal academy and join a mission-focused team. The position includes competitive base pay, comprehensive federal benefits, and significant recruitment/retention incentives.

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Salary & Incentives

• Annual base salary (newly appointed BPAs, grade-dependent): GL-5 / GL-7 — $51,632 – $92,912 per year
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid after academy; additional $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location)
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years
• Federal benefits include health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), and generous leave

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Duty Locations & Assignment Notes

• Duty assignments may include Southwest Border and other U.S. border sectors; prioritized locations include (examples): Sierra Blanca, Presidio, Sanderson, Comstock, Lordsburg, Freer, Hebbronville, Ajo
• Candidates will be asked to indicate preferred locations among mission-critical sector stations; final assignment is based on operational needs and may require relocation
• Locality pay adjustments may apply depending on assignment; fully trained BPAs may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay under BPA pay rules

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Key Responsibilities

• Detect and question persons suspected of violating immigration/customs laws; inspect documents and possessions
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers; maintain covert and overt surveillance (including night operations using infrared)
• Interpret and follow physical evidence (tracks, marks) of illegal entry
• Perform farm, building, traffic, city, and transportation checks
• Patrol border and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and other government assets

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Qualifications

You may qualify at different entry grades depending on experience and education:

GL-5 (basic entry) — must meet one of:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, ability to learn regulations/methods, and information gathering through questioning/observation
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• A combination of experience + education (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

GL-7 (higher entry) — must meet one of:

• One year of specialized experience showing ability to: use firearms with sound judgment; deal courteously and tactfully with people in law enforcement contexts; rapidly analyze information and make prompt decisions (e.g., arrest authority after training)

• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA/class standing/honor society) or one year of relevant graduate-level study

• A combination of specialized experience + education (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

• If you have prior law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at GL-9 or GS-11 grade levels — refer to BPA GL-9–11 announcements

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Other Requirements & Conditions

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years
• Age restriction: candidates must be referred before reaching their 40th birthday per law enforcement retirement provisions (exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference)
• Veterans’ Preference and certain excepted-service appointments (e.g., VRA) may apply
• Successful hiring requires passing security background checks, medical and fitness evaluations, and other federal pre-employment steps

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Training & Career Path

• New hires will attend the Border Patrol Academy (~6 months) for instruction in immigration/nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and other mission-specific training
• Spanish language skill is valuable; academy training includes language proficiency development
• This is a career-ladder role: GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 with eligibility for promotion after successful completion of required time-in-grade

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What We Value

• Strong judgment and composure in high-pressure situations
• Ability to work independently and in teams across remote/varied environments
• Clear verbal and written communication skills; ability to follow regulations and procedures
• Physical fitness and willingness to operate diverse vehicles and equipment
• Commitment to public service and protecting community and national security

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Next Steps

If you meet the qualifications above and are interested in an entry-level federal law enforcement career with significant training, career growth, and financial incentives, consider applying through the designated federal application channels. (Careertakes will support your application by connecting you to the Confidential Client’s process.)

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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.