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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Role overview

Confidential Client is recruiting entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) to join a federal law-enforcement career ladder (GL-5/GL-7 and upward). This is a full-time, on-site public-safety role based in Perris, CA (duty assignment may require relocation). Candidates should expect intensive academy training, field patrol work, and duties that include surveillance, document inspection, and apprehension consistent with federal law-enforcement responsibilities.

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What You’ll Do

• Detect and question persons suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations.
• Conduct surveillance and covert operations, including night operations using infrared and other detection tools.
• Interpret and follow physical evidence (tracks, marks) indicating illegal entry or smuggling.
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, and other government assets.
• Make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of force consistent with training, policy, and applicable law.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (range reflects grade and locality adjustments).
• Estimated median for this posting: $71,008 per year (estimate).
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 at academy completion + $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations where applicable).
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Federal benefits package: health, dental, and other insurance plans; annual and sick leave; participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement savings).

Note: Actual pay may include locality and law-enforcement premium adjustments depending on duty location.

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Duty Locations

Duty assignments are determined at time of offer based on operational needs. Prioritized and mission-critical locations (examples) include — but are not limited to:

• Big Bend Sector (Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Marfa)
• Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley sectors (multiple stations)
• San Diego Sector (Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta)
• Tucson, Yuma, El Centro, Grand Forks, Spokane, Swanton, Houlton sectors

Relocation may be required. Some prioritized locations may carry enhanced incentives.

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Minimum Qualifications

To qualify at GL-5 you must have ONE of the following:

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating: taking charge, sound decision-making under stress, and the ability to learn regulations/methods via classroom or on-the-job training; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college or university; OR
• A combination of work experience and college-level education (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

To qualify at GL-7 you must have ONE of the following:

• One (1) year of specialized experience showing: sound judgment in use of firearms; effective, courteous law-enforcement interactions; rapid analysis and prompt decision-making in law-enforcement contexts (e.g., criminal enforcement, corrections, security, military police); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA/class standing/honor society), or one full year of relevant graduate-level study; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

If you have prior federal civilian or military law-enforcement experience you may qualify at higher grades (GL-9, GS-11). Those candidates should reference the applicable announcement.

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Required Eligibility & Other Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates generally must be referred for selection before turning 40 (Title 5 law-enforcement retirement provisions). Exceptions may apply for certain prior federal or qualified service and Veterans’ Preference eligibles.
• Medical, fitness, background, and suitability clearances required after selection (including a thorough background investigation).
• Formal training: Successful candidates will attend approximately six months of intensive academy training (including immigration & nationality law, firearms, driving, physical techniques, and Spanish-language training).
• Language: Ability to speak and read English required. Spanish language ability is frequently needed; training may be provided during the academy.
• Reasonable accommodations: Confidential Client will provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities in accordance with federal and state law. If you require an accommodation during the application or hiring process, indicate so to the recruiter.

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Preferred / Helpful Experience

• Prior public-safety, security, corrections, military, or law-enforcement experience.
• Experience with patrol, surveillance, or tactical operations.
• Bilingual Spanish/English skills.
• Demonstrated ability to remain composed under stress, make timely decisions, and work as part of a team.

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Legal & Compliance Notes

• This posting complies with applicable federal and state non-discrimination laws. Confidential Client and Careertakes consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, consistent with federal and state requirements.
• Where state pay-transparency laws apply, the salary range above is included. Do not rely on this posting for final offer details; exact grade, pay, incentives, and duty location are determined at offer time.
• Reasonable accommodations and alternative formats are available upon request.

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What to Expect Next

As this is a third-party recruiting listing, Careertakes may provide additional matched opportunities if you opt in. If selected by Confidential Client, you will undergo academy training and a multi-step hiring process (assessments, medical/fitness evaluations, background checks). Final hiring decisions are made by Confidential Client.

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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.