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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About the Role

Confidential Client is recruiting full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) for career positions in federal law enforcement. This position provides academy training, a structured career ladder (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12), generous benefits, and recruitment/retention incentives of up to $60,000 for qualifying hires. Successful candidates will serve as part of a mission-focused team protecting the nation’s borders.

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent, typical duties include:

• Detect and question individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions to determine status or violations.
• Conduct surveillance, night operations (including use of infrared scopes), and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers.
• Interpret and follow physical evidence such as tracks and marks to locate illegal entry.
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other government assets.
• Make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of force consistent with training and policy.

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Qualifications

Minimum qualifications vary by grade. Candidates may qualify at different entry grades (GL-5 / GL-7) depending on education and experience.

GL-5 (minimum): one year of general work experience demonstrating responsibility, decision-making under stress, ability to learn regulations/methods, and information gathering; OR a bachelor’s degree; OR a combination of education and experience.

GL-7 (preferred for some hires): one year of specialized experience demonstrating firearm judgment, effective interpersonal skills in law enforcement contexts, rapid information analysis and decision-making, and experience applying law enforcement skills (e.g., criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military police); OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement; OR graduate-level coursework related to law enforcement; OR a combination of specialized experience and education.

Additional requirements:

• U.S. citizenship.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: candidates must be referred before their 40th birthday unless exempt under federal law (e.g., certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference exceptions).
• Ability to complete rigorous academy training (approx. 6 months in Artesia, NM) and to meet fitness, firearms, and medical standards.
• Ability to speak and read English; Spanish language training is provided at the Academy to become mission-competent.
• Background checks, polygraph, and drug screening as required for federal law enforcement positions.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (varies by grade and locality).
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 for newly appointed BPAs (first $10,000 paid after successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location).
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 in additional incentives over the first four years.
• Benefits include health, dental, and other insurance plans; generous annual and sick leave; and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement savings).

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Duty Locations & Mobility

Duty assignments may include Southwest Border and other mission-critical locations. Confidential Client determines duty assignments at offer time based on operational needs. Relocation may be required.

Examples of prioritized or mission-critical locations (non-exhaustive):

• Sierra Blanca, Presidio, Sanderson, Comstock, Lordsburg (NM), Freer, Hebbronville, Ajo (AZ)
• Sector stations across Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, Tucson, Yuma, and others nationwide.

Locality pay and assignment impact total compensation. Candidates should expect variable duty locations based on mission needs.

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Training & Career Progression

• New hires attend the Border Patrol Academy (approximately six months in Artesia, NM) for intensive instruction in immigration and nationality laws, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, and firearms.
• BPA is a career-ladder position: you may advance from GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 upon completing required time-in-grade and training without reapplying.
• Ongoing professional development and specialized assignments are available throughout a BPA career.

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Other Important Information

• Veterans’ Preference: Veterans may be eligible for special hiring authorities (e.g., Veterans Recruitment Appointment) and may be exempt from some age restrictions — applicants should review eligibility criteria.
• This position is subject to federal law enforcement retirement provisions.
• Offers are contingent on successful completion of required background checks, medical/fitness standards, and other pre-employment conditions.
• Confidential Client is committed to reasonable accommodation for candidates with disabilities during the hiring process; contact Careertakes if you need assistance.

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Why Apply Through Careertakes

• Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform that can connect qualified candidates to this Confidential Client opportunity and related federal law enforcement openings.
• If selected, you will be employed directly by Confidential Client; Careertakes may also surface other matched roles that fit your background.

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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.