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Detention And Deportation Officer

ERO AD ENFORCEMENT | Philadelphia, PA

Posted Date 4/17/2026
Description View Common Definitions of terms found in this announcement.
As a Detention and Deportation Officer, at the full performance level you will perform the following duties:
  • Determine and make recommendations concerning the strategic objectives of enforcement programs and the means of their attainment;
  • Conduct reviews of ongoing operations, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, and determining and making substantive recommendations for improvements; responsible for developing, reviewing, and providing recommendation to plans and policies in furtherance of the overall mission of Enforcement;
  • Serve as principal advisor responsible for providing expert advice and guidance to the Director, Deputy Director, and other management staff; serve as liaison to other agencies, at conferences, and on boards or other committees, presents the Department of Homeland Security's viewpoint and negotiates tentative solutions to enforcement problems;
  • Make field inspections to ensure compliance with policies and procedures, furnishes leadership and guidance to field officers, and resolves problems requiring interpretation and application of policy and complex phases of the law;
  • Prepare instructions to field offices, ensures that staff officers are kept informed of changes in policies and procedures, and provides timely advice on conditions or situations which would have a bearing on operations in jurisdictional areas.

Organizational Location: These positions are located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, in Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Buffalo, New York; Centennial, Colorado; Chantilly, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; El Paso, Texas; Fort Snelling, Minnesota; Harlingen, Texas; Houston, Texas; Irvine, California; Los Angeles, California; Mesa, Arizona; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Washington, District of Columbia; Williston, Vermont.

NOTE: Vacancies are being filled in many of the Sub-Field Offices located within each respective Field Office Area of Responsibility (AOR). If selected for an interview, please inquire with the interview panel for additional information. Location extended at the final job offer will be based on the needs of the agency and availability of positions. Upon final job offer you may be offered a duty location that is not within your preferences. You must be willing to accept any duty location that falls within the area of responsibility (AOR) of one of the 25 Field Offices (FOD) listed in this vacancy announcement.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-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:
  • Conducting legal research and investigations of difficult and sensitive cases that are complex;
  • Preparing legal documents and evaluating appropriateness of determinations;
  • Developing investigative plans, conducting investigations, and writing investigative reports;
  • Investigating, detaining, apprehending or arresting persons charged with violations;
  • Interviewing suspects and witnesses.


You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

  • Directing, coordinating, and controlling the execution of agency nationwide program activities, such as illegal employment, fugitives, and counteracting criminal alien gangs.
  • Conducting extensive reviews of ongoing operations, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, and determining and making substantive recommendations for improvements.
  • Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, and understanding conceptual ideas to present well-considered and sound suggestions via memorandums, briefs, and presentations to senior leadership.
  • Planning and carrying out joint assignments involving teams of officers, investigators, including state, local, and other federal agencies and requiring major cooperation at critical stages of fugitive, criminal, and counter-terrorism activities.
  • Managing and developing relationships with high-level officials in immigration enforcement agencies.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)Completion of Training: You must have successfully completed Basic Immigration Law Enforcement Training in accordance with 8 CFR 287.1(g) and other applicable agency policy. This includes successful completion of the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement & Removal Operations (ERO) Basic Immigration Law Enforcement Training Program (ICE_BIETP); ICE Detention & Removal Operations (DRO) Basic Immigration Law Enforcement Training Program (ICE_D); the legacy Immigration Officer Basic Training Course (IOBTC); the Border Patrol Academy (USBPI); the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Academy Officer Basic Training Program (OBT); the combination of both the legacy Basic Immigration Detention Enforcement Officer Training Course and the ICE DRO Equivalency Training Program (ETP); the ICE Special Agent Training Program; the combination of FLETC Criminal Investigator Training Program and the DRO Equivalency Training Program for Special Agents (ETPSA) and for legacy US Customs Special Agents, the ICE / Customs Special Agent Cross Training Program. Due to regulatory requirements, no other training will be accepted. (Note: Completion of training is subject to verification).

Note: If you previously completed one of the basic immigration law enforcement training courses listed above but have had a significant break of three years or more from a position that initially required this training, you will be required to attend and successfully complete a new ICE basic law enforcement training course as a condition of your employment. Failure to successfully complete the academy will result in your removal from this position.

Deportation Officer Transition Program (DOTP): Selectees who have not previously held a position as a Deportation Officer, Detention and Deportation Officer, Supervisory Deportation Officer, or Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer and have not previously attended the six-week DOTP will be required to do so after entrance on duty. Successful completion of this course is mandatory per agency policy. Failure to successfully complete the academy will result in your removal from this position.

Physical Fitness Testing (PFT): Physical Fitness Test (PFT) may be administered. A passing score is required. If you have failed a PFT, you are not eligible for consideration for 12 months from the closing date of the announcement in which you applied that required the PFT. Additionally, a PFT will also be administered at FLETC during Basic Training. Every trainee must pass the PFT during training.

Medical Requirement: You may be required to pass a pre-employment medical examination.

Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory. You must satisfactorily complete (or have previously completed) the firearms component of the Criminal Investigation Training Program at Glynco, GA. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition. A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is generally defined under the statute as any offense involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of deadly weapon, committed by the victim's current or former domestic partner, parent, or guardian. The term "convicted", as defined in the statute, excludes any person whose conviction has been expunged, set aside, or pardoned or any person whose civil rights have been restored unless the pardon, expungement, or restoration of civil rights expressly prohibits the possession of firearms or ammunition. Candidates who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence within the meaning of the referenced statute are not qualified for this position. Candidates under consideration will be required to certify whether they have ever been convicted of such an offense. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment [Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001]

Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO): This position may require substantial amounts of irregular or occasional overtime. You may be required to work on an unscheduled basis in excess of the 40-hour workweek. You must be readily available to perform this unscheduled overtime on a continual basis. To compensate you for this irregular and occasional overtime, you may receive premium pay in the form of Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO). AUO is currently authorized for this position. However, authorization for AUO is dependent upon the incumbent meeting certain regulatory criteria and is subject to change.

Work Conditions: This job requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion. Surveillance frequently requires extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and crawling through a variety of terrain. The work involves high risks with exposure to a wide variety of potentially dangerous situations and unusual environmental stress. The officer typically works long and irregular hours, on weekends, holidays, and at night.
Salary109,383.00 - 197,200.00 Annual

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