Border Patrol Recruitment Enhancement Act

This bill lets U.S. Customs and Border Protection speed up hiring by letting some applicants skip the polygraph test, if they already meet strict safety checks. It applies to certain experienced state and local police, current federal officers, and military members or veterans with clean records and high-level background clearances. The waiver option lasts for five years after the law takes effect. Even with a waiver, applicants still must pass all other background and security reviews, and CBP can still give a polygraph if new concerns come up during screening .

To track results and protect the public, CBP must report each year on how many waivers it gives, how many are denied and why, how many waiver applicants are hired, any later discipline, and whether the program helps fill jobs. The first report must also look at other truth-detection tests that could be used when a polygraph is waived. The Government Accountability Office must review outcomes every five years and compare discipline rates for hires with waivers versus those who took a polygraph .

Key points

• Who is affected: Certain state/local officers with 3+ years and a recent passed polygraph; current federal officers with 3+ years and a Top Secret–level clearance; service members or veterans with 3+ years, an honorable discharge, and a recent Top Secret–level clearance; all must have clean records .
• What changes: CBP may waive the entry polygraph for these groups, but can still require it if issues arise. All other background and security checks still apply .
• Oversight: Annual CBP reports for four years after the first report, plus GAO reviews every five years for ten years, including comparisons of discipline rates .
• When: The waiver authority ends five years after enactment .