What Is a Border Patrol Agent?
The United States Border Patrol is a federal agency within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The CBP enforces immigration laws and regulations for the admission of non-citizens into the United States. The CBP has more armed law enforcement officers than any other U.S. federal agency. The U.S. Border Patrol is assigned to detect and apprehend illegal immigrants and U.S. citizens or non-citizens involved in the illegal drug trade.
The primary responsibility of a border patrol agent is referred to as “line watch.” Line watch involves covert surveillance of all activities on or near land borders. They can be assigned to traffic check, traffic observation, city patrol, intelligence and anti-smuggling. Border patrol agents may work on major highways near borders. They may also work along coastal waterways, primarily along the Pacific coast.
How to Become a Border Patrol Agent
In order to qualify for application to the CBP, an individual must be under the age of 40, a United States citizen and a resident of the U.S. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish or able to learn the language within a reasonable amount of time. They must possess a valid driver’s license. Applicants must also pass a thorough background check, a medical examination, a physical fitness test, and a drug test.
Candidates who have past arrests, any type of criminal conviction, dismissals from previous jobs, large outstanding debts, or issues with alcohol or drug use may be rated as unsatisfactory by the CBP. Applicants will also be required to pass polygraph tests.
An undergraduate degree in a discipline such as homeland security will give applicants a leg up on the competition. Accepted applicants must complete 55 days of paid training at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy. An additional 40 days of training will be required for those that need Spanish language instruction.
Border Patrol Agent Career Outlook & Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career outlook for federal officers such as border patrol agents working in the United States will be good from 2008 to 2018. Federal agents are often employed on the General Services (GS) pay scale. Most agents begin their work at the GS-5 or GS-7 level. Agents will move up the GS scale as they gain experience and knowledge.
Salary typically increases as an agent moves up to a higher GS level. According to the Bureau, the median annual wages for detectives and criminal investigators working in the Federal Government were $73,170. According to Payscale.com, U.S. Border Guards surveyed made around $47,479 annually. Customs and Border Protection patrol officers made around $65,505, and operations managers made around $97,020.
There will be keen competition for positions with federal and state law enforcement agencies. Agents who can speak a second or third language will have the best employment opportunities.
