Danville, WA, is a small town (population 34) located in Ferry County, Washington. Many people commute from nearby Republic, WA, to Border Patrol jobs at the Danville/Carson Border Crossing.
The Danville/Carson Border Crossing connects Danville, in northeastern Washington, with the city of Carson in British Columbia, Canada. It is a Class A U.S. port of entry, meaning that all foreign nationals may utilize the crossing. The Danville/Carson Border Crossing is open seven days per week from 8 am until midnight.
While the Canadian border is not crossed by as many illegal immigrants as the United States’ border with Mexico, the frequency of illegal crossings has risen in recent years prompting increased patrolling by Border Patrol agents and a new level of alertness among Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers who man the border crossing station. Equally concerning is the smuggling of money, drugs and weapons across the northern border, and the possibility of terrorists entering the U.S. from the north.
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the presence of CBP officers and border patrol agents along the United States’ northern border has grown considerably, from 340 in FY2001 to 2,237 in FY2011.
Border Patrol Job Requirements
The United States has 329 ports of entry into the country, including land, air and sea ports. As part of the Department of Homeland Security, CBP Officers and border patrol agents work at each point of entry to welcome citizens and visitors to the United States, ensure that import/export laws and regulations are followed, inspect agricultural products, deter illegal immigrants, and prevent criminal activities including the smuggling of drugs, weapons and money. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Border Patrol agents’ duties have expanded to include monitoring our nation’s borders for potential terrorist activities and acting to prevent future terrorist attacks. Many Border Patrol agents find the varied duties of their jobs challenging and exciting.
In order to work for Customs a Border Patrol, a candidate must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen and U.S. resident
- Posses a valid U.S. driver’s license
- Be under 40 years of age, be a Veteran’s Preference eligible candidate or have previous federal law enforcement experience
- Speak Spanish or pass an aptitude test for learning a foreign language
- Complete additional screenings including: background investigation, medical exam, fitness test, drug test, physical fitness test-2 and a possible polygraph test.
Additionally, Border Patrol candidates may be considered ineligible for hire if they have:
- Been arrested
- Been convicted of a crime, including misdemeanor domestic violence
- Been fired from a job
- Excessive debt and financial issues
- History of alcohol problems
- History of drug use, and/or sale or distribution of illegal drugs
The compensation for Border Patrol agents depends on the agent’s combination of education and experience. Agents may be hired as GL-5 ($38,619), GL-7 ($43,964) or GL-9 ($49,029) level officers. As federal employees, Border Patrol agents qualify for the federal government benefits package, including life insurance, health insurance, retirement benefits, and a 401-K savings plan.