Border Patrol Agent - Entry Level

U. S Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is one of the world’s largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade. CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a Border Patrol Agent (BPA) you will be part of our 60,000-employee workforce that strives to protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity. Being a Border Patrol Agent makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession.

Select this site’s Apply link to join CBP’s Talent Network, you will be provided the official GL-7 BPA announcement that appears on USAJobs, the Federal Government’s official employment site, where you apply on-line. 

You will begin your career as a GL-7 grade level BPA and make $50,704 - $80,151 depending upon location and work schedule, including overtime. 

To ensure compliance with an applicable nationwide preliminary injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the federal government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for federal employees. Therefore, to the extent a federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel and quarantine.

Typical assignments include:

• Detecting, preventing, and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers of noncitizens at or near the land borders by maintaining surveillance from covert positions
• Responding to electronic sensor alarms
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks and other physical evidence
• Using infrared scopes during night operations
• Responding to aircraft sighting and other anti-smuggling activities
• Performing farm and ranch checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrolling the international boundary and coastal waterways and using a variety of Government assets for the accomplishment of the USBP Mission. These assets may include, but are not limited to: vehicles, horses, vessels, watercrafts, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles

Duty Locations: Job offers are made based on operational needs and requirements and are determined by the U.S. Border Patrol. Although the locations listed will most likely be available, the duty location offered in your final offer letter may include any location within the Southwest Border region as follows:

• Big Bend Sector Texas - Presidio Station, Van Horn Station, Sanderson Station, Alpine Station, Sierra Blanca Station, Marfa Station
• Del Rio Sector Texas - Abilene Station, Del Rio Station, Brackettville Station, Comstock Station, Eagle Pass North Station, Eagle Pass South Station, Carrizo Springs Station, Rocksprings Station, San Angelo Station, Uvalde Station
• El Paso Sector Texas - Alamogordo Station, Clint Station, Deming Station, El Paso Station, Fort Hancock Station, Las Cruces Station, Lordsburg Station, Santa Teresa Station, Truth or Consequences Station, Ysleta Station
• El Centro Sector California - El Centro Station, Indio Station, Calexico Station
• Laredo Sector Texas - Laredo South Station, Cotulla Station, Hebbronville Station, Laredo West Station, Freer Station, Laredo North Station, Zapata Station
• Rio Grande Valley Sector Texas - Rio Grande City Station, Fort Brown Station, McAllen Station, Brownsville Station, Falfurrias Station, Weslaco Station, Kingsville Station, Harlingen Station
• Yuma Sector Arizona - Blythe Station, Yuma Station, Wellton Station

You qualify for the GL-7 grade level if you possess one of the following:

Experience: One year of specialized work experience that shows you have the skills necessary to make sound judgments and decisions; to deal effectively with people in a courteous and tactful manner; to analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions and apply these skills in a law enforcement capacity such as training others, managing finances, code enforcement, doing compliance work, corrections, security, military, emergency responders, etc.; OR:

Education Substitution for the GL-7 grade level: A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0), or (3) honor society membership. Or will receive a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. Or one full year of graduate level education in a field of study related to law enforcement (e.g., criminal justice, homeland security, justice studies, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, forensic technology, forensic psychology, or corrections and rehabilitation) from an accredited college or university within 9 months from the closing date of this announcement. OR:

Combination of Experience and Education: This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

Age Requirement: In accordance with Public Law 100-238, this position is covered under law enforcement retirement provisions. Candidates must be referred for selection to the Border Patrol Agent position before reaching their 40th birthday in accordance with Department of Homeland Security Directive 251-03. The age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving or have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement (non-military) position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). The age restriction does not apply if you are Veterans' Preference eligible.

The age restriction does not apply if you are a Veterans' Preference eligible.

If you have previous or current law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at the GL-9 grade level. Please refer to the BPA GL-9 announcement.

You may also be eligible for an excepted service Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA).

How to Apply

Click on this site’s “APPLY” link/button. You will be taken to CBP’s Talent Network page and a Recruitment Application. Immediately upon registration you will receive a link to the Border Patrol Agent GL-7 announcement on USAJobs, the Federal Government’s official employment site. Note: You may be eligible for an excepted service Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), which you will also be able to access from CBP's Careers page/Talent Network page.