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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Role Summary

Confidential Client is seeking motivated candidates for Entry-Level Border Patrol Agent (BPA) positions. This is a full-time, federal law enforcement role with structured academy training, a clear career progression path, and significant recruitment and retention incentives (up to $50K total in some cases). Positions are being hired at multiple grade levels (GL-5, GL-7, GL-9, GS-11) depending on experience and education.

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What You’ll Do

• Enforce immigration and customs laws; detect, question, and inspect individuals and possessions as required.
• Conduct surveillance and interdiction operations, including covert night operations using specialized equipment.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways by vehicle, watercraft, horseback, off-road vehicles, ATVs, and motorcycles.
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Apprehend and process undocumented noncitizens and those engaged in smuggling or other criminal activity.
• Collect evidence, prepare reports, and support investigations and prosecutions as needed.
• Work closely with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

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Compensation & Incentives

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs varies by grade: $51,632 – $124,717 per year.
• Recruitment Incentive: Newly appointed BPAs may be eligible for up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 paid after academy completion + up to $10,000 for selecting a prioritized duty location).
• Retention Incentive: Eligible new hires may also qualify for up to $30,000 distributed over subsequent years.
• Federal benefits package: health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), generous leave accrual, and other standard federal employment benefits.
• Promotion potential: selection can be at GL-5 / GL-7 / GL-9 / GS-11 with promotional potential to GS-12 depending on performance and qualifications.

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Duty Locations (examples / prioritized locations)

The Confidential Client hires across many sectors and stations nationwide. Prioritized locations (additional recruitment incentive eligibility) have included, for example:

• Sierra Blanca, TX; Presidio, TX; Sanderson, TX
• Comstock, TX; Lordsburg, NM; Freer, TX; Hebbronville, TX
• Ajo, AZ (Other sector stations and locations are available across the U.S.; final duty station will be confirmed at offer time and may vary depending on vacancy availability.)

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Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must meet grade-specific requirements. Examples include:

GL-5 (entry-level)

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, and ability to learn policies and procedures; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of education and experience as described in the vacancy.

GL-7

• One year of specialized experience demonstrating law enforcement-relevant skills (firearms use, dealing tactfully with the public, arrests after training); OR
• Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of related graduate-level study.

GL-9 / GS-11

• One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level that includes law enforcement duties (searches, arrests, evidence collection, investigative work, use of complex surveillance/detection technology), OR relevant prior military or federal law enforcement service may qualify.

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Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Characteristics (KSAOs)

• Knowledge of immigration and nationality law basics.
• Knowledge of use-of-force policies and safe firearms handling.
• Knowledge of criminal law and procedure.
• Skill in physical techniques (self-defense, baton, OC spray).
• Firearms proficiency (handgun, shotgun, M-4 as required).
• Basic vehicle operation skills.
• Ability to analyze information quickly, make sound decisions, and communicate courteously in stressful situations.

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Other Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Residency: primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age restriction: Candidates must typically be referred for selection before their 40th birthday per agency policy; exceptions apply for certain prior federal or military service or for veterans’ preference eligibility.
• Successful candidates will attend the Border Patrol Academy (approximately six months in Artesia, NM) for intensive training in law enforcement, immigration law, and agency operations. Spanish language proficiency is helpful; language training is provided at the academy.
• This recruit process may use Direct Hire Authority for certain vacancies; meeting minimum qualifications will result in review.

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What We’re Looking For

• Applicants with public safety, security, military police, corrections, or law enforcement experience are encouraged — such backgrounds can accelerate grade-level qualification.
• Candidates who demonstrate sound judgment, strong interpersonal skills, physical fitness, and a commitment to public service.
• Willingness to relocate to assigned duty locations and to work varied shifts including nights and weekends.

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Notes

• This posting describes hiring by our client, a federal law enforcement agency. Careertakes is supporting the recruitment process as a third-party platform. Applicants may receive additional matched opportunities via Careertakes.
• The Confidential Client determines final grade, salary step, duty station, and incentive eligibility at time of selection and offer.
• The “How to Apply” instructions have been removed from this public listing per Careertakes posting guidelines. Applicants should follow the application flow provided through the Careertakes platform or the vacancy announcement linked in candidate communications.

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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.