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 (Public Safety & Security).

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 to join a federal law enforcement career path. This role offers structured career progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12), competitive base pay, federal benefits, and recruitment/retention incentives (up to $60,000 total in select circumstances).

• Location: Rancho Cucamonga / Rancho Cucamonga area — duty assignment may be elsewhere; relocation may be required.
• Employment type: Full-time
• Salary (entry grades shown): GL-5 / GL-7 — $51,632 to $92,912 per year (grade- and locality-dependent)
• Incentives: Up to $20,000 recruitment incentive (split payments) and up to $40,000 retention incentives over the first four years (where applicable)

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base pay range for newly appointed agents: GL-5 / GL-7 — $51,632 – $92,912 (varies by grade and locality).
• Eligible federal benefits include health and dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings), and other federal employment benefits.
• Some duty locations may include additional locality pay or enhanced law-enforcement pay differentials.

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What You’ll Do

As an entry-level Border Patrol Agent with Confidential Client you will perform a range of law-enforcement and border security tasks, including:

• Detect and question individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and individuals involved in smuggling.
• Conduct surveillance (including nighttime operations using infrared equipment) and covert operations as needed.
• Interpret tracks and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic and city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using varied government assets (vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, etc.).

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Typical Duty Locations (examples / mission-critical regions)

Duty assignments are determined at time of offer and may include operations along the Southwest border and other sectors. Candidates will be asked to indicate preferences but assignments depend on operational needs.

Selected mission-critical locations (illustrative examples):

• Big Bend Sector — Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Alpine, Marfa
• Del Rio Sector — Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso Sector — Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa
• El Centro Sector — El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Laredo Sector — Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Tucson, Yuma sectors and others across the U.S.

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Qualifications

You may qualify for different entry grade levels depending on experience and education:

GL-5 (entry-level) — one of:

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

GL-7 — one of:

• One year of specialized work experience showing ability to:
  • Make sound judgments in the use of firearms;
  • Deal courteously and tactfully with people on law-enforcement matters;
  • Rapidly analyze information and make prompt decisions in situations that may lead to arrests (experience in criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military, etc.).
• OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (class standing, GPA ≥ 3.0, or honor society membership) or one year of related graduate-level study.
• OR a combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

Note: Applicants with prior or current federal civilian law-enforcement or military law-enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9, GS-11, etc.) under separate announcements.

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Other Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age restriction: candidates must be referred before their 40th birthday per law-enforcement retirement provisions (exceptions apply for certain prior federal civilian LEO service or Veterans’ Preference eligibility).
• Veterans’ Preference and certain hiring authorities (e.g., Veterans Recruitment Appointment) may apply and can affect age restrictions.
• After hire, you'll attend a federal border enforcement academy (approx. 6 months) for intensive training in immigration law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and other required courses.
• Spanish language skills are highly valuable; training may be provided to reach proficiency.

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Training & Career Progression

• New hires enter a structured training program at a federal academy (about six months) where you receive operational, legal, tactical, firearms, and language training.
• Career ladder progression allows promotion to the next grade after successfully completing required time-in-grade (typically 52 weeks at each step) without reapplying.

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What We’re Looking For

• Strong decision-making under pressure
• Good observational and reporting skills
• Willingness to relocate and serve in mission-critical locations
• Commitment to a long-term federal law-enforcement career
• Integrity, teamwork, and physical fitness suitable for law-enforcement duties

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Notes & Disclosures

• Duty assignment and pay are grade- and location-dependent. Confidential Client determines duty assignments at the time of offer based on operational needs. RELOCATION MAY BE REQUIRED.
• Recruitment and retention incentives are subject to program rules and availability and vary by location and candidate eligibility.
• This posting represents an entry-level federal law-enforcement career opportunity; final hiring decisions and application details will be managed by the hiring agency.

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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.