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Immigration Enforcement Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Immigration Enforcement Officer information

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$32.5K

$62.1K

$103.5K

How much do immigration enforcement officer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for immigration enforcement officer in the United States is $62,148.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $74,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Immigration Enforcement Officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Immigration Enforcement Officer, you need a strong understanding of immigration laws, investigative techniques, and law enforcement procedures, often supported by relevant training or a background in criminal justice. Proficiency with case management systems, databases, and communication equipment is typically required. Excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to remain calm under pressure help officers interact effectively with diverse populations. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring lawful enforcement, fair treatment, and maintaining public trust in sensitive situations.

What are some common challenges faced by Immigration Enforcement Officers during field operations?

Immigration Enforcement Officers frequently encounter challenging situations during field operations, such as handling confrontational interactions, working in unpredictable environments, and ensuring the safety of all parties involved. Officers must balance enforcing the law with treating individuals respectfully and ethically. Effective communication, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are crucial for success in these scenarios. Additionally, officers often collaborate closely with other law enforcement agencies, which requires strong teamwork and adaptability.

What are Immigration Enforcement Officers?

Immigration Enforcement Officers are government officials responsible for upholding immigration laws and policies within a country. Their duties often include investigating immigration offences, conducting raids, detaining individuals who violate immigration regulations, and facilitating removals or deportations when necessary. They may work at borders, airports, or within communities to ensure compliance with legal requirements. These officers play a vital role in maintaining national security and managing migration flows. The job requires strong communication, investigative, and decision-making skills.

What qualifications do you need to be an Immigration Officer?

To become an Immigration Enforcement Officer, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, with some positions requiring a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, or related fields. Applicants must pass background checks, physical fitness tests, and often complete specialized training or certification programs related to immigration laws and enforcement procedures.

What is the difference between Immigration Enforcement Officer vs Customs Officer?

AspectImmigration Enforcement OfficerCustoms Officer
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require specialized training or certificationsHigh school diploma or equivalent; training in customs procedures
Work EnvironmentBorder crossings, immigration detention centers, enforcement operationsPorts of entry, border crossings, airports, cargo inspection areas
Employer & Industry UsageU.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICEU.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS

Immigration Enforcement Officers focus on enforcing immigration laws, investigating violations, and apprehending individuals unlawfully present. Customs Officers primarily inspect goods and travelers at borders to prevent illegal smuggling and ensure compliance with customs regulations. While both roles work within border security and share some training, their specific duties and environments differ significantly.

More about Immigration Enforcement Officer jobs
What cities are hiring for Immigration Enforcement Officer jobs? Cities with the most Immigration Enforcement Officer job openings:
What states have the most Immigration Enforcement Officer jobs? States with the most job openings for Immigration Enforcement Officer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Immigration Enforcement Officer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Immigration Enforcement Officer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Immigration Enforcement Officer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $62,148 per year, or $29.9 per hour.
Technical Enforcement Officer

$65.55K/yr

Other

Posted 13 days ago


U.S. Department Of Homeland Security rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 85 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

83rd of 272 rated public sector bodies


Job description

View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.
Organizational Location: This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations offices throughout the country.
This is a non-bargaining unit position.Qualifications:Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:
  • Demonstrating some level of knowledge in the use, instruction, installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and integration of the full range of electronic surveillance devices including but not limited to communication devices and applications, video, audio, tracking, Radio Frequency (RF) technologies and associated unique surveillance systems;
  • Demonstrating knowledge of electronic surveillance equipment and techniques including such technologies as covert audio recording devices, covert body wire devices, telephony surveillance, covert tracking of targets, and covert video; and
  • Conducting electronic surveillance in support of criminal investigations. OR
Education: A master's or equivalent graduate degree, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.B/J.D., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11.
You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:
  • Demonstrating working knowledge in the use, instruction, installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and integration of the full range of electronic surveillance devices including but not limited to communication devices and applications, video, audio, tracking, Radio Frequency (RF) technologies and associated unique surveillance systems;
  • Demonstrating working knowledge of electronic surveillance equipment and techniques including such technologies as covert audio recording devices, covert body wire devices, telephony surveillance, covert tracking of targets, and covert video; and
  • Conducting electronic surveillance in support of difficult criminal investigations cases. OR
Education: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a LL.M., if related. Graduate level education must have been from an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and activities necessary to do the work. OR
Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified in the table, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11.
You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:
  • Demonstrating a good working knowledge in the use, instruction, installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and integration of the full range of electronic surveillance devices including but not limited to communication devices and applications, video, audio, tracking, Radio Frequency (RF) technologies and associated unique surveillance systems;
  • Demonstrating good working knowledge of electronic surveillance equipment and techniques including such technologies as covert audio recording devices, covert body wire devices, telephony surveillance, covert tracking of targets, and covert video; and
  • Conducting electronic surveillance in support of criminal investigations with substantial difficulty where circumstantial evidence was used or indirect perpetrators were pursued. Follow up on an entire chain of separate surveillance matters stemming from original assignments and a web of multi-jurisdictional problems.
You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:
  • Demonstrating mastery knowledge in the use, instruction, installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and installation of the full range of electronic surveillance devices including but not limited to communication devices and applications, video, audio, tracking, Radio Frequency (RF) technologies and associated unique surveillance systems; and
  • Providing expertise in the planning and execution of the electronic surveillance phase of major investigative and enforcement operations.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.
Age Restrictions
: If you occupy or previously occupied a federal civilian (not military) law enforcement position as specified in 5 USC 8336(c) or 5 USC 8412(d) and exceed the age of 37, you must submit a copy of all SF-50s reflecting the beginning and end dates of creditable law enforcement civilian (not military) service under 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). The retirement code in block 30 must be annotated on all submitted SF-50s. If you are a preference eligible veteran and exceed the age of 37, please provide the documentation outlined in Veteran's Preference Documentation below.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.Education:If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.Employment Type: OTHER

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About U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a federal agency operating within the government services industry in Washington, DC, US. Established in 2003, the DHS is directly responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its main responsibilities include protecting the United States from and responding to terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters. Through its more than 20 component agencies including Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it ensures the safety of the US through numerous programs and initiatives. The DHS upholds a core value system with the mission of safeguarding the American people, our homeland, and values. Notably, the DHS plays a critical role in the spectral range of activities to prepare, prevent, and respond to possible threats to the US.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

Year founded

2003