Border Patrol Agent – Experienced Law Enforcement Professionals

About the Mission

The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is an elite team of highly trained professionals dedicated to protecting America. Our daily mission is defined by camaraderie, pride, and a shared purpose to safeguard our borders, deter illicit activity, and enhance the nation's economic prosperity. As part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), we offer a career in law enforcement that provides excellent pay, exceptional federal benefits, and long-term job stability.

About the Role

As an Entry-Level Border Patrol Agent (BPA), you will join a workforce of over 60,000 individuals striving to protect the American people. This is a career ladder position within the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession, offering a clear path for promotion from GL-5 through GS-12 based on successful completion of time-in-grade requirements.

Your day-to-day work involves detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws, inspecting documents, and preventing the entry of undocumented noncitizens and smugglers. You will maintain surveillance from covert positions, interpret physical evidence of illegal entry, and conduct various checks including farm, building, traffic, and city patrols. Patrol duties are performed using a variety of government assets, including vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles, often along the international boundary and coastal waterways.

Hiring and Training Process

Upon selection, you will be detailed to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico, for approximately six months of intensive instruction. Training covers immigration and nationality laws, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms proficiency, and Spanish language acquisition. Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish, as well as English; training is provided to ensure proficiency.

Application Instructions:

1. Click the Apply button on this site to be linked to the CBP Talent Network registration page.
2. Select Border Patrol Agent as your Position of Interest and complete the pre-screening questions.
3. You will receive a link to the BPA Job Opening Announcements (JOAs) on USAJOBS to complete your formal application.
4. Ensure you review all details and submit required items, including your resume and transcripts.
5. Evaluation is based on your resume, supporting documents, and the BPA Entrance Exam.

For questions regarding the application process, contact a recruiter through the U.S. Border Patrol page at careers.cbp.gov/s/usbp.

Duty Assignments and Incentives

Duty assignments are determined at the time of offer based on operational needs and may include the Southwest Border. Relocation may be required, and assignments may not align with first-choice preferences. Newly appointed agents may be eligible for significant recruitment and retention incentives, including up to $20,000 in recruitment incentives and up to $40,000 in retention incentives distributed over the first four years, particularly for accepting prioritized locations.

Equal Opportunity and Culture

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse workforce. We consider qualified applicants regardless of background. As a subscriber to the CBP Talent Network, you will receive monthly updates on webinars, career expos, and future opportunities with CBP.