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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Overview

Confidential Client is hiring full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL-5 / GL-7 grade levels for mission-focused federal law enforcement work based in and around Laredo, TX. This is a career-track position offering base pay, federal benefits, and potential recruitment and retention incentives (up to $60,000 in total incentives for eligible hires).

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Salary & Incentives

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Recruitment incentive: Up to $20,000 for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents (first $10,000 after successful completion of the Academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location where applicable).
• Retention incentives: Eligible agents may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Federal benefits: medical, dental, vision options, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings).

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Where You’ll Work

Duty assignments are mission-driven and determined at the time of offer. Assignments may include prioritized Southwest Border locations and other sector stations. Relocation may be required. Locality pay and duty-location differentials may apply; fully trained BPAs may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay under applicable pay reform provisions.

Sample mission-critical sectors (not exhaustive):

• Big Bend Sector (Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Marfa)
• Del Rio Sector (Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Uvalde)
• El Paso Sector (El Paso, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa)
• Laredo Sector (Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata)
• Rio Grande Valley Sector (McAllen, Brownsville, Weslaco)
• Tucson, San Diego, Yuma, and additional domestic sector stations

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent for Confidential Client you will:

• Detect, question, and inspect persons and belongings to determine immigration and customs compliance.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance (including covert and night operations).
• Interpret and follow tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation inspections.
• Patrol boundaries and waterways using a variety of operational assets (vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, etc.).
• Work as part of a team to protect borders and support national security and economic prosperity.

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Qualifications

Minimums for GL-5:

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

Minimums for GL-7:

• One (1) year of specialized work experience showing ability to:
  • Make sound judgments in the use of firearms;
  • Deal effectively and courteously with people in law enforcement contexts;
  • Analyze information quickly and make prompt decisions (e.g., arrests, enforcement actions) — experience may come from criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military, or related fields; OR
• Education substitution (e.g., bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year graduate-level study in a law-enforcement-related field); OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education.

Candidates with law enforcement or military police experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11); such applicants should reference the appropriate announcement.

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Other Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Residency: Must have maintained primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred before reaching their 40th birthday per applicable law enforcement retirement provisions (exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or veterans’ preference eligibilities).
• Veterans: Veterans’ preference and certain appointment authorities (e.g., Veterans Recruitment Appointment) may apply.
• Training: Selected candidates will attend approximately six months of intensive training at the Border Patrol Academy (includes immigration and nationality law, driver training, firearms, physical techniques, and language training). Proficiency in English is required; training will include Spanish language development to support operations.
• Medical/physical background checks and other federal employment clearances will apply.

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Training & Career Path

• Entry-level BPAs receive academy training followed by duty assignments and a career-ladder progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12) with eligibility for promotion after completing required time-in-grade.
• Ongoing professional development, specialized assignments, and opportunities for advancement are available within federal law enforcement career paths.

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What We’re Looking For

• Strong decision-making under pressure.
• Integrity, teamwork, and a commitment to public service.
• Physical fitness and readiness for field assignments.
• Willingness to relocate and accept duty assignments based on operational needs.
• Experience in public safety, security, corrections, military, or law enforcement is advantageous but not always required for entry-level appointment if education or qualifying experience is met.

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Note on the Hiring Process

Careertakes is supporting this recruitment as a third-party recruiting platform. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Confidential Client. Application and final hiring steps (including official job announcements and application submission) are conducted by the hiring agency. Careertakes may surface additional matched opportunities to applicants.

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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.