US Border Patrol Sets All-Time Record With 21,471 Agents Serving

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported 21,471 Border Patrol agents are currently serving on the front lines, the highest employee count in the 102-year history of the agency.

“Investments made possible through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have fueled increased applicant interest and enabled CBP to attract top talent, including veterans and military family members,” CBP said in a June 24 statement. “By offering Veterans’ Preference, expedited hiring authorities, and a variety of recruitment incentives, CBP provides multiple pathways to help veterans transition into rewarding federal careers.”

CBP said it was offering competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and significant hiring incentives of up to $60,000 for new hires to Border Patrol posts at select locations.

Newly appointed Border Patrol agents receive a $20,000 incentive, of which the first $10,000 will be paid when the individual successfully completes the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico, with the remaining $10,000 paid when the person accepts a prioritized location.

The remaining $40,000 will be paid as retention incentives for qualifying newly appointed Border Patrol agents over a four-year period.

Qualified, eligible veterans get preference over others during CBP recruitments. “Depending on the position being filled, veteran applicants may be placed ahead of other candidates in a ranking category,” the agency said.

CBP said the “historic milestone” of 21,471 Border Patrol agents underscores the agency’s commitment to protecting America’s borders and shielding U.S. citizens.

“This record-setting achievement highlights the effectiveness of our recruitment efforts,” U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rosario Vasquez said. “We are building a stronger workforce every day, and our progress toward 25,000 agents will further enhance our ability to protect our borders and serve the nation.”

CBP Office of Human Resources Management Assistant Commissioner Andrea Bright said the agency was committed to growing its workforce.

Border Patrol Funding

On June 10, President Donald Trump signed a bill to fund Border Patrol and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the next few years.

The measure, Secure America Act, sets aside $22 billion for Border Patrol to recruit, train, pay, and equip its agents and staff. Out of the $22 billion, around $13 billion is specifically set aside for immigration enforcement operations. The legislation granted $38 billion for other immigration enforcement efforts, including funding to hire, train, equip, and compensate ICE personnel.

Democratic lawmakers have been criticizing federal immigration enforcement and the bill. In a June 5 statement, the office of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) alleged that the roughly $70 billion funding for ICE and Border Patrol was being provided with “no oversight.” The funding is more than four times their combined annual budgets, she said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) also criticized the measure as a “blank check, with no oversight, no accountability, and no guardrails.”

The White House said in a June 9 statement that the Secure America Act “fully funds” Trump’s border security agenda.

“The Secure America Act puts an end to Democrats’ political games by fully funding ICE and Border Patrol through President Trump’s term and providing the resources needed to keep our border secure, combat human trafficking, stop the flow of deadly drugs, dismantle criminal cartels, and enforce America’s immigration laws,” the White House said.

Amid record workforce numbers and fresh funding for Border Patrol, the CBP said in a June 18 statement that May was the 13th straight month of zero illegal immigrants being released into the United States by Border Patrol agents.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Trump administration was delivering the “most secure border in American history.”

“The days of catch and release are over,” Mullin said. “We are enforcing the nation’s laws and quickly sending illegal aliens back to their home countries, ensuring the safety and sovereignty of our nation.”