CBP adds new administrative post to support border patrol agents

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the newly created Border Patrol Processing Coordinator position would prove valuable in freeing agents for critical law enforcement operations.

“I am committed to providing the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol the resources they need to accomplish their border security mission,” Carla Provost, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, said. “Border Patrol Processing Coordinators will take on processing, transportation, and custody responsibilities.”

The endeavor serves as part of CBP’s recruiting, hiring and retention strategy to help optimize the workforce, noting CBP has improved the frontline hiring process and retention efforts via a new 5 percent retention incentive for all GS-12 and GS-13 Border Patrol agents.

Border Patrol Processing Coordinators will execute administrative tasks related to the intake and processing of individuals apprehended by agents and brought back to stations. The position will also assume responsibilities for transporting individuals and property in agency custody, as well as custodial watch of detainees in hospitals.

The Border Patrol is developing training and hiring plans for the new position and plans to begin hiring new coordinators early in fiscal year 2020 as a means of addressing 40 percent of agents on the Southwest border currently conducting processing, transportation, care, and hospital watch, feeding and cleaning duties instead of frontline law enforcement responsibilities.