Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, within many nationwide locations. Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement. Further selections may also be made for additional organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Interpreting and enforcing immigration or comparable laws, rules, and regulations; Performing intelligence, prosecutions, investigations, anti-smuggling, identifying operational problems, devising solutions, ensuring compliance of enforcement and operational practices; Apprises management of deficiencies or noted problems. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid 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 will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 07/29/2025. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Secondary Law Enforcement Officer Special Retirement Coverage: This is a secondary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers under CSRS and FERS 5 CFR 842.803, 5 CFR 831.903, 5 USC 8425(b), 5 USC 8335(b),5 USC 8412(d) and 5 USC 8336(c). Employees in secondary positions must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible for special retirement provisions: moved directly from a rigorous position to a secondary position without a break in service; complete 3 years of service in a rigorous position; and have been continuously employed in a secondary position(s) since moving from a rigorous position without a break in service exceeding 3 days. For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. For further information on when an employee continues or discontinues coverage under the special retirement system for law enforcement officers, see the CSRS and FERS handbook, Chapter 46 (CSRS pages 12-14, and FERS pages 41-43). If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180. Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates may be required undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website. Polygraph Examination: The BORDER PATROL AGENT position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination. Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package. Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package. Residency: There is a residency requirement for 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 of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five 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: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Duty Locations: You will be asked to select your preferred location for five (5) of the following mission critical locations: Big Bend Sector Stations Blaine Sector Stations Buffalo Sector Stations Del Rio Sector Stations Detroit Sector Stations El Paso Sector Stations El Centro Sector Stations Grand Forks Sector Stations Havre Sector Stations Houlton Sector Stations Laredo Sector Stations Miami Sector Stations New Orleans Sector Stations Rio Grande Valley Sector Stations San Diego Sector Stations Spokane Sector Stations Swanton Sector Stations Tucson Sector Stations Yuma Sector Stations NOTE: Placement will be determined based on current vacancy and operational requirements. As a Border Patrol Agent you will perform the full range of Border Patrol Agent duties required in order to prevent the entry of terrorists and their weapons of terrorism; and to enforce the laws that protect America's homeland by the detection, interdiction, and apprehension of those who attempt to illegally enter or smuggle any person or contraband across our Nation's sovereign borders. This position starts at a salary of $88,621.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $115,213.00 (GS-12, Step 10). As a Border Patrol Agent you will serve as a secondary law enforcement officer and be responsible for: Preventing the entry of terrorists and their weapons on terrorism Enforcing the laws that protect America's homeland by the detection, interdiction, and apprehension of those who attempt to illegally enter or smuggle any person or contraband across our Nation's sovereign borders