𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗦 $𝟱𝟬𝗞 𝗕𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗬

                                                                     

Federal immigration agencies are stepping up hiring efforts by offering major financial incentives and calling back experienced personnel.

U.S. Customs and BorderProtection (CBP) announced this week it is seeking to rehire Border Patrol agents who retired between July 2020 and July 2024. The agency is targeting several sectors in South Texas and other locations across the country. Rehired agents would be classified as "reemployed annuitants," meaning they would still receive their retirement benefits, and in some cases, also receive full salary without any reduction.

CBP says some returning retirees may qualify for a salary offset waiver, allowing them to earn both full retirement pay and a full-time salary. These waivers, also known as Dual Compensation Waivers, are granted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management but can be authorized directly by CBP under certain conditions. The agency plans to hire retirees for terms ranging from one to four years, with the possibility of extensions depending on operational needs.

The agency also promises to streamline the hiring process and provide accelerated training to get retirees back into the field quickly. The starting salary for the role is $105,383 (GS-13 level), and positions are full-time.

Meanwhile, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is offering up to $50,000 in signing bonuses to new agents as part of a major recruitment push. The campaign also includes student loan repayment and forgiveness programs. According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the effort is meant to bolster immigration enforcement in response to what she described as "failed immigration policies" under the Biden administration.

ICE recently received nearly $30 billion in funding through a budget bill signed by former President Donald Trump on July 4. The agency plans to use those funds to hire 10,000 additional agents, aiming to grow its force to 16,000 deportation and arrest officers.

Both CBP and ICE say these efforts are critical to strengthening national security and addressing growing challenges along the U.S. border.

Agents are asked to select their preferred location for the following 5 locations:

• Rio Grande Valley Sector – Falfurrias, TX

• Del Rio Sector – Eagle Pass North, Eagle Pass South, Comstock, Brackettville, Carrizo Springs, Del Rio, TX

• Laredo Sector – Freer, and Zapata, TX

• Big Bend Sector – Marfa, Presidio, Alpine, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Van Horn, and Fort Stockton, TX

• Buffalo Sector – Wellesley Island, NY

• Grand Forks Sector – Bottineau, Pembina, Portal, ND and Grand Marais, Warroad, MN

• Havre Sector – Havre, Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass, St. Mary, MT

• Houlton Sector – Calais, Fort Fairfield, Jackman, Rangeley, and Van Buren, ME

• Spokane Sector – Colville, Curlew, Metaline Falls, and Oroville, WA

• Swanton Sector – Beecher Falls, Newport, Richford, VT and Burke, Champlain, NY