Become a Border Patrol Agent? Salary, Requirements, History

Border Patrol agents are tasked with guarding our country against illegal activity and providing aid to those in need. Their top priority is keeping terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States, while at the same time welcoming legitimate travelers. Border Patrol officers and agents prevent illegal immigration, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and other illegal goods from entering the United States. Over the past several month's thousands of pounds of illegal drugs have been seized by border agents. These include Cocaine, Heroin, Meth, and Fentanyl. Thousands of pounds of marijuana were seized. It is still illegal on the federal level, but that could be changing soon on the federal level. Border Patrol Agents also apprehend gang members. In 2020, 363 gang members were apprehended, even with the pandemic going on. In 2019, 976 gang members were apprehended. Border Patrol Agents also respond to sensor alarms, interpret tracks and markings, and communicate with illegal aliens. The roles of Border Patrol agents have changed over time. The Border Patrol was actually established in 1924 under the Calvin Coolidge administration. It's weird to think about now but, the Border Patrol was actually initially part of the Department of Labor. Two actions lead to the formation of the Border Patrol in 1924. The prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s and the Immigration Act of 1924. Border Patrol Agents during prohibition were tasked with stopping the sale, distribution, and production of alcohol. Border Patrol Agents back then were paid $1,680 per year and given a badge and revolver to uphold the law. border Patrol agents apprehended bootleggers and smugglers until prohibition ended in 1933. So for about 13 years, Border Patrol Agents were tasked with stopping the sale, distribution, and production of alcohol. The Immigration Act of 1924 is the second factor that leads to the creation of the Border Patrol. Get this. There was no numerical limit on immigration before 1924. In some years, millions of immigrants would pass through Ellis Island. The Immigration Act of 1924 severely limited the number of immigrants based on race, nationality, and ethicity. This prevented vasts numbers of Chinese, Jews, Italians, Greeks, and Eastern Europeans from immigrating to the United States. This also prevented refugees during WW2 from immigrating to the United States. Because of the act, illegal immigration spiked. The Border Patrol was tasked with preventing illegal immigration on the Mexican and Canadian border. This ended in 1965 where the Immigration and National Act ended immigration restrictions based on race, ethnicity, and nationality. The next big change for the Border Patrol was after 9/11. After the terrorist attacks, the United States decided to focus much more on securing borders. The Border Patrol moved from the Department of Labor to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. Since 2003, the Border Patrol has more than doubled in size. To become a Border Patrol Agent, there are several requirements. (show me) You must be a US Citizen, have a valid driver's license, been in the US for 3-5 years, be eligible to carry, a firearm, be younger than 40, and be willing to travel. There is a lengthy background investigation that includes a polygraph. Physical requirements include you can't be color blind, have to do a certain amount of situps, pushups, and steps in a minute. As for compensation, border patrol agents do pretty well. There are 4 levels of career progression, compensation includes base salary, overtime pay, and locality pay, there's over a month of annual leave per year,, retirement benefits, and health/life insurance. Border Patrol Officers usually start at GS 7 and can potentially go up to the executive level. Up the journeyman level, promotions are almost automatic. But to get beyond a journeyman, you must compete with others. All federal government base salaries are based on the 2021 GS Scale. A starting base salary would be around $42,000. But keep in mind pay can be boosted through overtime, locality pay, and cash awards. And as promotions occur, base salary will increase and with it overtime pay. A GS 15's Base Pay is $110,460 in 2021. This is before overtime, locality pay, and cash awards. Border Patrol agents are federal government employees, so they have excellent pay and benefits. Unfortunately, there are some cons of the job. Border Patrol agents have the highest suicide rate of all law enforcement professionals. According to an internal government report, the US Border Patrol Officers die by suicide 30% more than other law enforcement professionals. People aren't entirely sure why, but being a Border Patrol officer isn't an easy job. With any law enforcement role, you have to enforce the law even if you don't agree with it.