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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Position Overview

Confidential Client is recruiting for full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agent (BPA) positions. These are career federal law enforcement roles (GL-5 / GL-7 grade levels) focused on protecting borders, deterring illicit activity, and supporting community safety. This posting covers opportunities tied to Santa Rosa, TX (78593) and many mission-critical duty stations across the United States.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Federal benefits package including health and dental insurance, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings).
• Locality and pay reform provisions may apply; fully trained BPAs may be eligible for additional locality pay up to 25% per applicable laws.

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Incentives

• Recruitment incentive: Up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid after successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: Eligible newly appointed BPAs may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Total potential incentives: up to $60,000 (subject to eligibility and program terms).

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Duty Locations

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Duty assignments may include the Southwest Border and prioritized locations. Duty assignments are determined based on operational needs and may require relocation.

Preferred mission-critical locations include (but are not limited to):

• Big Bend Sector Stations — Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Buffalo Sector — Wellesley Island
• 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, Ysleta
• El Centro Sector — El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Grand Forks Sector — Pembina
• Havre Sector — Havre, Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass
• Houlton Sector — Calais, Fort Fairfield, Jackman, Rangeley, Van Buren
• Laredo Sector — Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Laredo West, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley Sector — Rio Grande City, Fort Brown, McAllen, Brownsville, Falfurrias, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen
• San Diego Sector — Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Spokane Sector — Colville, Curlew, Metaline Falls, Oroville
• Swanton Sector — Beecher Falls, Burke, Champlain, Newport, Richford
• Tucson Sector — Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Brian A. Terry, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• Yuma Sector — Blythe, Yuma, Wellton

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Duties & Responsibilities

As a Border Patrol Agent you will be an active member of a federal law enforcement workforce. Typical duties include:

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers; conducting surveillance (including night operations with infrared equipment).
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry of persons or contraband.
• Performing farm, building, traffic, city, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and other government assets.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at different grade levels depending on experience and education.

GL-5 qualification (one of the following):

• Experience: One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making under stress, learning regulations/methods through training, and gathering concise information from questioning and observation.
• Education substitution: Bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college/university.
• Combination: A combination of general work experience and college education (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

GL-7 qualification (one of the following):

• Experience: One (1) year of specialized work experience showing ability to:
  • Make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms;
  • Deal courteously and tactfully in law enforcement matters;
  • Rapidly analyze information and make prompt decisions (e.g., arrests after required training).
• Education substitution: Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (based on class standing, GPA ≥ 3.0, or honor society membership), one full year of relevant graduate-level education, or a combination of relevant education and experience.

Note: Applicants with prior military or law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11). Qualifications will be determined from submitted resumes and transcripts.

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Other Requirements & Legal Notices

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (includes U.S. protectorates as declared under international law).
• Age restriction: Candidates must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday in accordance with applicable law and Department directives. This restriction may not apply to certain veterans or prior federal civilian law enforcement personnel as specified by law.
• Veterans’ preference: Veterans may be eligible for special hiring authorities; age restrictions may be waived for eligible veterans.
• Reasonable accommodation: Confidential Client is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants needing reasonable accommodations during the application process should notify the hiring contact.
• Background & training: Selection will include evaluation of application materials and entrance examinations. Formal onboarding includes a multi-month Academy program; successful completion is required.

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Training & Career Progression

• Formal training: Newly hired BPAs will attend the Border Patrol Academy (approximately six months) for intensive instruction in immigration and nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and other required coursework. Language training (Spanish proficiency) is provided as part of Academy instruction.
• Career ladder: This is a career ladder position with progression through grade levels (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12). Promotion to the next grade generally follows successful completion of 52 weeks at each grade level (no reapplication required).

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Important Compliance & Candidate Notes

• Positions may require relocation to duty locations determined by operational needs.
• Applicants will be evaluated on submitted resumes, supporting documents, transcripts (if used for education substitution), and entrance exam performance.
• Confidential Client adheres to all federal, state, and local hiring laws where positions are posted; applicants must meet any state-specific requirements for duty locations.

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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.