U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is hiring entry-level Deportation Officers through a nationwide Direct Hire announcement that lists 232 duty locations, from Anchorage and Atlanta to Houston, Seattle and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The official USAJOBS listing shows pay of $51,632 to $92,921 per year (GL-5 to GL-7, promotion potential to GS-12). It says no college degree is required and that eligible candidates may get up to $30,000 in signing bonuses. The announcement is open from October 1 to December 31, 2026, but candidates are reviewed at rolling cut-off dates, so applying early matters.

Below we cover what the job involves, who qualifies at each grade, the age limit and fitness test, and how to apply without getting screened out.

ICE ERO deportation officers in tactical vests holding a pre-operation briefing in a parking lot — ICE ERO officers and federal partners hold a pre-operational briefing in the Washington, D.C. area. Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (public domain)

Job Snapshot

Position: Deportation Officer (entry level), series 1801
Agency: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Department of Homeland Security
Locations: 232 locations nationwide, including Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Saipan
Salary: $51,632 to $92,921 per year, depending on grade and locality
Grade: GL-5 to GL-7, promotion potential GS-12
Incentives: Up to $30,000 in signing bonuses for eligible candidates (service agreement required), plus a one-time $5,000 incentive at listed hard-to-fill locations
Schedule: Full-time, permanent; not telework or remote eligible
Who can apply: U.S. citizens and nationals (OPM Direct Hire Authority)
Clearance: Secret
Announcement number: ERO-13077357-DH-EKS (control number 887251000)
Open period: October 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026

View the official ICE Deportation Officer announcement and apply on USAJOBS →

What Deportation Officers Do

At the entry level you work alongside experienced officers on immigration investigation, custody, location, arrest, prosecution and removal cases. According to the announcement, duties include:

Helping apprehend people accused of violating immigration or related laws
Preparing investigative reports detailed enough to support prosecution or administrative action
Law enforcement support work such as taking fingerprints and photographs
Conducting routine interviews, document inspections and data checks to answer immigration inquiries and complaints
Documenting, transporting and escorting people being removed, under a senior officer’s guidance
Supporting criminal and civil prosecutions and custodial operations

This is an armed law enforcement job. You’ll carry a firearm, travel occasionally, and must sign a Mobility Agreement, which means ICE can later reassign you to another ERO duty location (usually with at least 90 days’ notice, and relocation costs reimbursed for directed moves).

Who Qualifies: GL-5 vs. GL-7

GL-5 needs one of the following:

Experience: 3 years of progressively responsible general experience. At least one of those years must show you can analyze problems, gather data, plan and organize work, communicate well orally and in writing, and deal with people face to face. Routine clerical work like typing or filing doesn’t count.
Education: A 4-year bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited school.
Combination: Post-high-school education plus experience that together add up to 100% of the requirement.

GL-7 needs one year of specialized trainee-level experience (interviews, basic case reports, securing statements and evidence, database searches, supporting arrests under supervision), or one year of graduate study, or Superior Academic Achievement (for example, a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0+ GPA or upper-third class standing), or a qualifying combination.

Volunteer experience counts, including AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and community work. Already a federal law enforcement officer at GS-11 level? ICE runs a separate GS-11 Deportation Officer announcement ($76,745 to $124,730, also open until December 31, 2026).

Other Requirements You Must Meet

Age: At least 21. You must be referred for selection before your 40th birthday, unless you’re a preference-eligible veteran or have served in a covered federal civilian law enforcement position.
Fitness: A pre-employment physical fitness test, plus the Physical Abilities Assessment before you graduate from training: a 220-yard sprint in 47 seconds or less, an obstacle course in 1:30 or less, and a 1.5-mile run in 14:00 or less.
Screening: A medical exam, a drug test (with random testing after hire), a Secret-level background investigation that can include a credit check, and possibly a polygraph. You pay your own travel to the polygraph.
Firearm eligibility: Anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence can’t legally carry a firearm and is ineligible.
Other: A valid driver’s license, an official passport, and the ability to speak, read and understand English.
Training: About 71 days (not counting weekends and holidays) of ERO basic immigration law enforcement training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Graduates of CBP Officer, Border Patrol or HSI academies may attend the shorter Deportation Officer Transition Program.

Salary and Benefits

The listed range of $51,632 to $92,921 covers both entry grades across all locality pay areas. Your actual pay depends on your grade and duty station. With promotion potential to GS-12, the job has a clear path to a much higher salary. The announcement also lists:

Up to $30,000 in signing bonuses for eligible candidates (requires a service agreement)
An extra one-time $5,000 at hard-to-fill locations, including Karnes City TX, Providence RI, Milwaukee WI, Kansas City MO, Louisville KY, Fargo ND, Albuquerque NM, Tucson AZ, Seattle WA, San Francisco CA, Anchorage AK and others
Possible student loan repayment
Standard federal benefits: health, dental, vision and life insurance, a federal retirement plan, the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k)), paid leave and holidays

Keep in mind that you pay your own moving costs to your first duty station. ICE pays for travel to training.

How to Apply, Step by Step

Create or sign in to your USAJOBS account and open announcement 887251000.
Write a 2-page resume. Only the first 2 pages are reviewed. For each job, include your title, duties, employer name, address and phone, start and end dates (MM/YY), hours per week, and whether ICE may contact your supervisor.
Pick two geographic preferences. They aren’t guaranteed. You must accept any location in the Field Office area you’re offered, and turning down the offered location removes you from consideration.
Upload your documents: transcripts if you’re qualifying on education (unofficial copies are fine), a DD-214 or SF-15 if you’re a veteran, and an SF-50 if you’re a current or former federal employee.
Complete the questionnaire and the online assessment. The four short essay questions aren’t scored, but they’re encouraged (200 words or less each). You must certify they’re in your own words with no AI help.
Submit, then watch your email for the fitness test, medical, background and polygraph steps.

Closing Date

The announcement closes on December 31, 2026. It’s an open-continuous posting: the first cut-off was October 9, 2026, and ICE will set more cut-offs based on hiring needs. Applying sooner puts you in an earlier review group.

Tips to Stand Out

Don’t copy and paste the announcement’s duties into your resume. ICE says it won’t count that as experience.
Be specific about times you interviewed people, wrote reports, handled conflict or worked under pressure. Security, corrections, military and customer-facing roles can all qualify if you describe them clearly.
Start training for the 1.5-mile run and sprint now. Failing the fitness standards is a common way candidates wash out.
Fix credit and debt problems before the background check.
Flexible on location? Hard-to-fill sites come with an extra $5,000.

FAQ

Do I need a college degree to become an ICE Deportation Officer?
No. The announcement says this entry-level role requires no college degree. Three years of qualifying general experience meets the GL-5 requirement.

What is the age limit?
You must be at least 21 and referred before your 40th birthday, with exceptions for preference-eligible veterans and some current or former federal law enforcement officers.

Can I work remotely?
No. The position isn’t telework or remote eligible.

Can I choose where I work?
You can list two preferences, but ICE assigns locations based on its needs, and you must sign a Mobility Agreement.

Related Federal Law Enforcement Jobs

Apply for the ICE Deportation Officer job on USAJOBS (official listing) →

Details verified against the official USAJOBS announcement on October 23, 2026. Pay, incentives and cut-off dates are set by ICE and can change, so always confirm on the official listing before you apply.