An agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, CBP has a specific goal to add African-Americans to its rolls. CBP has a workforce of 45,000 employees including officers, canine enforcement officers, Border Patrol agents, aircraft pilots, trade specialists, and mission support staff. CBP’s recruitment effort seeks to increase African-American employment from 1.2 percent to 5 percent over the next two years.
CBP is charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. trade laws. Another CBP mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. The largest uniformed law enforcement agency in the country, CBP personnel is responsible for apprehending individuals attempting to enter the U.S. illegally, stemming the flow of illegal drugs and other contraband, protecting U.S. agricultural and economic interests from harmful pests and diseases, and protecting American businesses from theft of their intellectual property.
CBP’s four major operating entities are: Office of Field Operations (OFO); Office of Border Patrol (U.S. Border Patrol); Office of CBP Air & Marine; and the Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination (OIOC). CBP has been forced into active recruitment across America. A November 2007 Government Accountability Office report showed that low staffing, training, and overwork is a large problem within CBP and an average of 71 officers leave the service every two weeks. The recruitment effort is also fueled by President George W. Bush’s 2006 announcement to enhance the nation’s border security by hiring 6,000 new Border Patrol agents by the end of 2008. By the end of fiscal year 2008, CBP hopes to have over 50,000 employees and have hired more than 11,000 new employees.
The goal of hiring a record number of Border Patrol agents includes targeted outreach to African-American communities. The national recruitment campaign seeks to address and dispel misconceptions African-Americans may have about becoming an agent, and to increase the percentage of minorities in the Border Patrol. Because most of its work is along America’s Southwest border states, the Border Patrol currently has less than 1.5 percent African-Americans within its ranks, as opposed to the Common Labor Force, which has more than 10 percent.
The starting salary for Border Patrol agents is under $36,000 and reaches $70,000 within three years of service. Border Patrol agents also receive a generous benefits package including health and retirement benefits, in addition to substantial overtime earnings. All applicants must be under age 40; be a U.S. citizen and resident of the U.S.; be fluent in Spanish or be able to learn basic Spanish; possess a valid state driver’s license; pass a thorough background investigation, medical examination, fitness test, and drug test.
CBP recruiters say that if your background includes past or present arrests; convictions (including misdemeanor domestic violence charges); dismissals from previous jobs; debts and financial issues; excessive use of alcohol; or use of illegal drugs, and/or the sale and distribution of illegal drugs, you will be considered "unsuitable" for a Border Patrol Agent position. During the hiring process, applicants may also be subjected to a polygraph examination.
If hired, candidates for permanent positions must successfully complete a 55-day paid " Basic Academy " training at the CBP Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, NM. Training includes such topics as immigration and nationality laws, Spanish, physical training and marksmanship. An added incentive for African- Americans with little familiarity with Spanish is that an additional 40-day session will be provided for those needing more basic Spanish language instruction.
Black men and women considering jobs as Border Patrol Agents should review the agency’s website www.CBP.gov. CBP job candidates must be willing to work overtime and shift work under arduous conditions and be proficient in the use of and carrying of firearms. Border Patrol Agents are subject to random drug testing. They may also be sent on temporary assignments on short notice and on permanent reassignments to any duty location. All Border Patrol Agents start their careers along the Southwest border.
