WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the Border Patrol Recruitment Enhancement Act to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hire qualified agents and officers faster and address its persistent staffing shortage. The bill would allow CBP to waive the polygraph requirement for certain pre-vetted applicants who currently serve or have served in law enforcement or the military.
“CBP is stretched thin, and the hiring system is part of the problem. We’re losing qualified applicants to red tape and delays,” said Senator Gallego. “If you’ve already served in the military or law enforcement, we shouldn’t be making you jump through unnecessary hoops just to serve your country again. I’m proud to lead this bill to help CBP hire border agents and port officers faster, cut bureaucracy, and keep our border secure.”
READ MORE: Border Patrol could face key recruitment change as Congress debates next immigration moves
CBP has faced a staffing crisis for years, and it will only worsen as the agency faces an oncoming wave of retirements. The current 11-step hiring process can take nearly two years, and only a small percentage of applicants actually get hired. One major bottleneck to hiring is the mandatory polygraph test, which costs taxpayers $2,000 per test and can produce high rates of false positives, making the test a costly and unreliable filter. This bill will cut this unnecessary step for trusted candidates, speeding up hiring and saving taxpayer dollars.
“We commend Senator Gallego for his legislation to waive the polygraph requirement for former law enforcement and military personnel who are applying to work at CBP. With an acute staffing shortage at our ports of entry, we support this proposal allowing CBP to hire qualified staff without lowering standards and ensure our ports have the resources they need to maintain efficient operations,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union.
“I proudly served my country as a United States Marine and combat veteran, as a Yuma County Sheriff’s Deputy, and for over 18 years as a Border Patrol agent. I know firsthand the level of commitment, discipline, and sacrifice it takes to serve—and I also know the frustration that comes when qualified public servants are forced to navigate unnecessary red tape just to continue serving in a different capacity,” said Mario Campos, National Vice President of AFGE District 12. “Veterans and law enforcement professionals have already proven themselves through years of service. Slowing down the federal hiring process with bureaucratic barriers only keeps our agencies understaffed and undermines national security. I fully support this bill and thank Senator Gallego for stepping up to cut through that red tape so we can get skilled professionals on the job and back to work protecting this nation.”
Read the full bill HERE.
6/26/25