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 (Homeland 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 Border Patrol Agents (BPA) for full-time, entry-level federal law enforcement careers. This is a mission-driven role that includes classroom and field training, competitive base pay, federal benefits, and significant recruitment/retention incentives for qualifying hires.

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Key Details

Confidential Client is recruiting for positions in and around South El Monte, CA. This is a full-time, career federal law enforcement position with grade-level hiring at GL-5 and GL-7, career-ladder progression, and the possibility of assignment to mission-critical duty locations. Relocation may be required.

• Annual base salary (new hires): GL-5 / GL-7 — $51,632 to $92,912 per year
• Employment type: Full time
• Incentives: Up to $60,000 in combined recruitment and retention incentives for eligible hires
• Training: ~6 months at the Border Patrol Academy (Artesia, NM)
• Language: Spanish proficiency is valuable; language training provided at the Academy
• Note: Applicants must meet federal eligibility requirements (citizenship, residency, age limits)

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent with Confidential Client you will:

• Detect, question, and inspect people and items suspected of violating immigration and customs laws
• Conduct surveillance (including night operations with IR equipment) and field investigations
• Apprehend, process, and transport individuals where applicable
• Perform farm, building, traffic, city, and transportation checks
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, and other government assets
• Interpret tracks, marks, and physical evidence of illegal entry and smugglers

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Salary, Benefits & Incentives

• GL-5 / GL-7 annual base pay range for newly appointed agents: $51,632 — $92,912
• Federal benefits package including health, dental, life insurance, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement savings)
• Recruitment Incentive: Up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 after academy + $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location)
• Retention Incentive: Up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying hires
• Additional locality and pay reform benefits may apply depending on duty station (some sites may be eligible for up to an additional ~25% locality pay)

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Typical Duty Locations

Duty assignments may be at Southwest Border or other mission-critical sectors. Assignments are determined at time of offer based on operational needs and may not align with candidate preferences. Examples of prioritized or common locations include:

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Marfa, Alpine
• Del Rio Sector: Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso Sector: Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Lordsburg, Las Cruces, Santa Teresa
• Tucson Sector: Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points
• San Diego Sector: Calexico, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Yuma, Grand Forks, Spokane, Havre, Swanton and others

Relocation to assigned duty station may be required.

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Duties & Responsibilities (Day-to-Day)

• Conduct interviews, inspect documents, and determine citizenship or violations
• Use surveillance tactics and technology to deter and detect illegal activity
• Execute arrests and process detainees according to federal law and policy
• Coordinate with partners and maintain information networks to support investigative activity
• Operate a range of vehicles and equipment, including watercraft and off-road vehicles
• Maintain physical fitness and weapons proficiency; follow use-of-force and firearms policies

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Minimum Qualifications

You may qualify at GL-5 if you meet one of the following:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure in stressful situations, and the ability to learn regulations and techniques; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college/university; OR
• A combination of general work experience and college-level coursework (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

You may qualify at GL-7 if you meet one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience demonstrating:
  • Sound judgment and decision-making in the use of firearms
  • Effective, courteous interaction with the public in law enforcement contexts
  • Rapid analysis of information and prompt decision-making (including arrests post-training)
  • Experience in criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military police, or related fields
• OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate-level education; OR
• A calculated combination of relevant experience and education

Note: Applicants with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify for higher-grade consideration (GL-9, GS-11). Review official announcements for grade-level eligibility.

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Other Legal & Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred for selection before their 40th birthday per law enforcement retirement provisions, unless exempt (e.g., certain veteran or federal law enforcement prior service exceptions).
• Veterans’ Preference and certain excepted appointment authorities may apply; age restrictions may be waived for eligible Veterans’ Preference candidates.
• Background & clearances: Selection requires successful completion of background investigations, medical and psychological evaluations, drug screening, and fitness assessments.
• Training: Successful candidates will attend the Border Patrol Academy (~6 months) for intensive instruction including law, firearms, driving, physical techniques, and Spanish language instruction as needed.

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What We’re Looking For

• Integrity, resilience, and a commitment to public service
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure
• Professionalism in interacting with diverse populations
• Willingness to relocate and work irregular hours, including nights and weekends
• Prior public safety, security, corrections, military, or law enforcement experience is helpful but not required for GL-5 / entry-level candidates

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Note on Application Process

This posting is supported by Careertakes as a third-party recruiting platform. The application process will direct you to the Confidential Client’s federal application steps and any required job announcement(s). Follow all instructions in the official job announcement(s) and supply requested documents (resume, transcripts, etc.). The selection process may include written exams and evaluation of submitted materials.

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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.