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, a confidential client in federal law enforcement.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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What You’ll Do

This entry‑level Border Patrol Agent role is a front‑line federal law enforcement position protecting the nation’s borders and supporting lawful trade and travel. Responsibilities include:

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws and inspecting documents and possessions
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance (including night operations with infrared equipment)
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrolling boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles
• Making prompt decisions under pressure and coordinating with other law enforcement personnel

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed agents (GL‑5 / GL‑7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year
• Estimated midpoint shown on some listings: ~$72,000/year (varies by locality)
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy; additional $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location)
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years (when eligible)
• Federal benefits package: health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), generous annual and sick leave
• Pay adjustments: locality pay and potential up to +25% for certain law enforcement pay reforms in qualifying locations

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Qualifications

Minimum / grade qualifications (select the pathway that applies):

GL‑5 (entry qualification examples):

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision‑making, composure under stress, ability to learn regulations/methods, and information gathering; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)

GL‑7 (specialized qualification examples):

• One year of specialized experience showing ability to:
  • Use firearms and exercise sound judgment;
  • Interact courteously and effectively in law enforcement contexts;
  • Analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement, or one year of graduate‑level study in a related field; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)

Mandatory requirements:

• U.S. citizenship
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years
• Age/retirement rule: candidates must be referred before reaching their 40th birthday per applicable law enforcement retirement provisions (exceptions may apply for prior qualifying federal law enforcement service or certain veterans’ preferences)
• Ability and willingness to complete formal academy training (approximately six months) and to relocate as required by duty assignment

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Training & Development

• New hires attend an intensive, ~6‑month academy covering immigration/nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and other mission‑specific coursework.
• Language training: Spanish speaking and reading ability is valuable; language training is provided to improve proficiency.
• Career ladder: typical progression is GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12 with eligibility for promotion after successful completion of required time-in-grade.

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Locations & Assignment Notes

Duty assignments are set at the time of offer based on operational needs and may include Southwest Border and other mission‑critical sectors. Relocation may be required; locality pay and incentives vary by location.

Prioritized/mission critical locations (examples):

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Alpine, Marfa
• Laredo Sector: Hebbronville, Freer, Laredo South/West/North, Zapata
• Tucson Sector: Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande
• El Paso Sector: Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa
• Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Yuma, and other sector stations across multiple states

(You will be asked to select preferred locations, but final assignment is operationally determined.)

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Desired Skills & Attributes

• Sound judgment and quick decision‑making under pressure
• Professional, courteous interaction with the public
• Firearms safety and use (training provided)
• Observational and investigative skills (track/mark interpretation)
• Comfortable operating a range of vehicles and field equipment
• Physical fitness, resilience, and teamwork
• Spanish language ability is highly useful (training available)

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Recruiter Note

Careertakes is a third‑party recruiting platform helping to manage candidate flow for this confidential client in federal law enforcement. If you meet the qualifications, you may be referred to the client’s formal job announcements and invited to complete required screening (resume review, supporting documents, entrance exam).

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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.