The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

Being a Border Patrol Agent makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession. Typical assignments include:

• Detecting and questioning persons suspected of violating immigration and custom laws and inspecting documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations
• Preventing, and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers of noncitizens at or near the borders by maintaining surveillance from covert positions to include using infrared scopes during night operations
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry of persons or contraband
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrolling the international boundary and coastal waterways using a variety of Government assets such as vehicles, horses, vessels, watercrafts, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles for the accomplishment of the USBP Mission.

Salary: Selections from this announcement will be at the GL-5, GL-7, GL-9 or GS-11 grade levels with promotion potential to the GS-12. Promotions are not guaranteed and at the discretion of the agency. Your pay will be determined after you successfully complete all pre-employment processes. Pay rates are based on the 2026 OPM Salary Tables - these tables do not take into consideration any potential overtime earnings, recruitment incentives, location incentives or yearly cost of living increases. The ending salary posted includes overtime, if worked.

Duty Locations: Before you submit your application you will be asked to select your preferred location. The location you select does not affect your application and it does not affect the locations that are offered to you at the time of your final offer.

• Big Bend Sector Stations - Alpine, Marfa
• Blaine Sector Stations - Blaine, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Sumas
• Buffalo Sector Stations - Oswego
• El Paso Sector Stations - Deming, *Lordsburg
• Grand Forks Sector Stations - Bottineau, International Falls, Pembina, Portal, Warroad
• Havre Sector Stations - Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass
• Houlton Sector Stations - Calais, Houlton, Rangeley, Van Buren
• Laredo Sector Stations - Laredo West
• New Orleans Sector Stations - Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans
• San Diego Sector Stations - Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo
• Swanton Sector Stations - Beecher Falls, Massena, Newport, Ogdensburg, Richford, Swanton
• Tucson Sector Stations - Douglas, Brian A Terry, Three Points Substation
• Yuma Sector Stations - Blythe

NOTE: The above preference locations are expected to have vacancies available in the future, however, if the duty locations do not have vacancies at the time of your final offer, you may be offered a different duty location within the United States.

*Additional $10K Recruitment Incentive: Newly appointed Border Patrol Agents who select a prioritized location at the time of their final offer will receive an additional $10,000 incentive (total of $20,000). Prioritized locations include Sierra Blanca, TX; Presidio, TX; Sanderson, TX; Comstock, TX; Lordsburg, NM; Freer, TX; Hebbronville, TX; Ajo, AZ.

Bargaining Unit: This position is covered under the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC). For more information, please visit.

Firearm Proficiency: This position requires you to carry a firearm. Firearm proficiency is required for all Border Patrol Agents and is part of the training provided.

 

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.

Firearm Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition and will not be considered for this position.

Residency Requirement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a residency requirement that applies to all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three (3) of the last five (5) years, before completing an application for CBP employment. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two (2) of the last five (5) years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

1. Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
2. A dependent of a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. Government
3. Working as a contractor employee, a volunteer, consultant or an intern for the U.S. Government
4. Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university

If selected for a position, you must provide documentation to support a request for an exception to the residency requirement.

 

Qualifications

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

GL-5: You qualify for the GL-5 grade level if you possess one of the following:

Experience: One year of general experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that demonstrates the ability to take charge, make sound decisions, and maintain composure in stressful situations; to learn regulations, methods, and techniques through classroom training and/or on-the-job instruction; and the ability to gather concise information through questioning, observation, and examination of documents and records; OR

Education Substitution: A conferred bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; OR

Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of general experience AND successfully completed college education. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

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

Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that shows you have the experience in law enforcement or other responsible work that demonstrates the skills necessary to:

• Make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms.
• Deal effectively with people in a courteous and tactful manner in connection with law enforcement matters.
• Analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions where you will be expected to make arrests after the completion of required training and apply these skills in a law enforcement capacity such as criminal code enforcement, determining violations of laws, correctional or rehabilitation work involving criminal offenders, security, military, etc. OR

Education Substitution: A conferred 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. Submitted transcripts must show the applicant does not have more than 10% pass/fail courses in order to qualify for SAA with GPA. Go to Superior Academic Achievement to see if you qualify under this provision; 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, corrections and rehabilitation) or one year of law school from an accredited college or university; OR

Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level AND graduate level education completed in a field of study related to law enforcement from an accredited college or university. This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.

GL-9: You qualify for the GL-9 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Performing physical searches of detained individuals, their vehicles, and their immediate surroundings for weapons, contraband, currency, and other evidence
• Apprehending, physically restraining or working with law enforcement officials to identify or apprehend violators of state, federal, or immigration laws
• Proficient in the use of firearms, preparing investigative reports, serving court orders (e.g., warrants, subpoenas, etc.) and gathering evidence for criminal cases prosecuted through the court system

GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, with the authority granted by the state or government to enforce laws, make arrests, and investigate crimes, performing primary duties in an official law enforcement capacity such as:

• Utilizing intelligence information to track illegal operations, criminal activity, threats to our nation, and/or contraband while serving as a state, Federal, or military law enforcement official
• Leading investigations of fraud, contraband, criminal activity, threats to our nation, and/or illegal operations to determine sources and patterns while serving as a state, Federal, or military law enforcement official
• Apprehending violators of state, federal or immigration laws by utilizing various forms of complex technology that includes surveillance, detection, situation awareness systems, and/or communications equipment

The above experience will be applied in connection with the Border Patrol Individual Occupational Requirement: Make arrests and exercise sound judgment in the use of firearms; deal effectively with people in a courteous manner in connection with law enforcement matters; analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions; or develop and maintain contact with a network of informants.

Paid, Unpaid & Volunteer Experience: Any qualifying experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You may receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experienceand experience as a CBP EXPLORER if your resume contains the sufficient information such as duties performed, exact dates, and hours worked.

 

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is a Direct Hire Authority announcement. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be reviewed. Veterans' Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this vacancy. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents, etc.). Review the Qualifications section of this announcement for more information. If you are found qualified and receive a tentative job offer, you will be required to complete and pass all required pre-employment steps before you can receive a final offer.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics (KSAOs): Candidates who meet the minimum qualification requirements for the GL-9 or GS-11 grade levels are required to possess certain KSAOs to successfully perform the functions of this position. The KSAOs are:

• Knowledge of Immigration and Nationality Law (e.g., non-immigrant classifications, immigrant classifications, inadmissible noncitizens, removable noncitizens, derivative citizenship, 8 USC)
• Knowledge of the Use of Force Policy (e.g., firearms, less-lethal devices and techniques, qualification requirements)
• Knowledge of Criminal Law and Procedure (e.g., statutory authority)
• Skill in Using Physical Techniques (e.g., self-defense, baton, OC spray, PLS)
• Skill in Using Firearms (e.g., hand gun, shotgun, M-4)
• Skills in Basic Operation of a Motor Vehicle (e.g., everyday use of vehicles, parallel parking)

 

All applicants are required to submit a resume. There may be other supporting documents needed at the time of application to verify qualifications, as described below.

Resume: A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, phone number, complete work history, a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (using the MM/DD/YYYY format), as well as your hours worked per week. If you are a current or former Federal employee you must include your grade and step information to receive credit for that work experience.
Note: Federal agencies only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Your resume must be uploaded under the "Resume" document type. No additional document types will be reviewed as part of your resume. Visit the CBP.gov website Border Patrol Agent Resume Aid and the USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job for further guidance and specific information on required resume formatting.

Are you qualifying based on education at the GL-5 or GL-7 grade levels? Submit a copy of your college transcript (an unofficial transcript is acceptable at this time) from an accredited institution that contains the qualifying information (e.g., number of credits, degree conferred/awarded and date, etc.). An official transcript will be required prior to entrance on duty. Transcripts must be in English. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials; see www.naces.org for a listing of some accrediting agencies. If submitting documentation of a foreign evaluation, a transcript is also required. For more information, see Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.
NOTE: If you are qualifying based on Superior Academic Achievement, your submitted transcripts MUST show a degree was conferred/awarded.

Are you qualifying based on federal experience? If you are using federal experience to qualifying, it is highly recommended that you submit your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" for that experience with this application.

Are you a veteran? If you claim veterans' preference you will be required to submit proof of eligibility with your application as appropriate to your preference type. For more information, see Veterans Preference.

• 5-point Preference (TP): Submit DD-214 listing the character of service and either qualifying medal(s) or service period.
• 10-point Preference (CP or CPS): Submit DD-214 listing the character of service and a VA Disability Award letter dated 1991 or later showing the total percentage of the service-connected disability. Submitting an SF-15 with your application is encouraged.
• 10-point Preference (XP): You MUST submit a Standard Form 15, DD-214 listing the character of service, and the required documentation stated on the SF-15.
• Currently Serving: If you are currently serving on active duty, or in the National Guard or Reserves, you can submit a written signed statement from the Armed Forces certifying your dates of service, rank, campaign badge(s) and expeditionary medal(s) (if applicable), expected character of service, type of discharge and anticipated date of separation which must be within 120 days from the closing date of this announcement. Prior to entering on duty, you will be required to provide a final DD-214.

Are you a current or former federal employee? If you are a current/former federal employee, it is recommended you submit your most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" form to support your experience. Please do not submit a Performance Award SF-50.

Can you claim an age waiver based on Veterans' Preference or previous FLEO service? If you are over the age of 40, you will need to submit proof at the time of application that you have previous federal law enforcement service covered by the enhanced retirement or proof you are eligible for veterans' preference. If you are over the maximum age and do not provide the required documentation for an age waiver, you will not receive consideration under this announcement.

• If you are claiming an age waiver based on Federal law enforcement service covered by the enhanced retirement system, you MUST submit copies of your SF-50s reflecting the beginning date and end date for all creditable Federal civilian (not military) service under Title 5 U.S.C. 8331(20), and Title 5 U.S.C. 8401(17) showing Retirement Code M or O in Block 30 of your SF-50s.
• If you are claiming an age waiver based on Veterans' Preference, you must submit the required Veterans' Preference documents.