(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that the Border Patrol reached 21,471 agents this spring, the highest staffing level in the agency’s 102-year history.

The milestone marks the current peak in a recruitment drive that CBP says is still expanding, with Border Patrol Chief Rosario “Pete” Vasquez tying the increase to sustained recruitment efforts and a broader target of 25,000 agents.

“This record-setting achievement highlights the effectiveness of our recruitment efforts,” said U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rosario “Pete” Vasquez. “We are building a stronger workforce every day, and our progress toward 25,000 agents will further enhance our ability to protect our borders and serve the nation.”

CBP released the staffing figure on 06/24/2026 and said the count reflected a milestone reached this spring. The agency described the staffing level as historic and linked it to its border security mission.

Andrea Bright, CBP Office of Human Resources Management Assistant Commissioner, said the hiring push is continuing even after the agency moved past the 21,000-agent mark.

“Our focus is on bringing in top talent and supporting our agents so they can succeed,” said CBP Office of Human Resources Management Assistant Commissioner Andrea Bright. “Surpassing 21,000 agents is a milestone, but we aren’t stopping here and are committed to growing our workforce and providing the tools and resources needed for CBP’s mission.”

CBP is offering hiring incentives of up to $60,000 for new Border Patrol agents in eligible locations. The agency also highlighted competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits as part of its hiring incentives package.

That compensation pitch sits at the center of current recruitment efforts, as Border Patrol agents remain the focus of an agency campaign built around pay, benefits and long-term career opportunities. CBP said a Border Patrol career offers a professional path centered on securing the border and serving the nation.

The staffing increase also comes with a larger legislative backdrop. CBP said investments made possible through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have fueled increased applicant interest and helped the agency attract veterans and military family members.

The funding package cited in the agency’s account includes billions for immigration enforcement hiring, including Border Patrol personnel. CBP connected that support to its wider hiring push as it tries to move from 21,471 agents toward its stated goal of 25,000.

Veterans and military families occupy a prominent place in that strategy. CBP said it offers Veterans’ Preference, expedited hiring authorities and recruitment incentives designed to create multiple pathways into Border Patrol and other federal careers.

Those pathways form part of the agency’s argument that it can broaden the applicant pool while increasing headcount. CBP said the added interest tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has helped it recruit top talent, including veterans and military family members.

The agency also cast the staffing mark as evidence that its current approach is working. Vasquez’s statement placed the rise in agent numbers directly alongside the effectiveness of recruitment efforts rather than a one-time jump tied to a single announcement.

Bright’s statement pointed to a second part of the hiring campaign: retention through workplace support. She said CBP is not only trying to bring in new personnel but also provide the tools and resources agents need to succeed once hired.

That message matters as CBP tries to convert interest into staffing growth. Hiring incentives can draw applicants, but the agency’s public statements paired those incentives with a broader promise of support, benefits and career development under experienced leadership.

CBP said it continues to be recognized as an employer of choice and described its workforce plans as part of a long-term expansion, not a finished effort. The agency’s own benchmark remains 25,000 agents, leaving several thousand positions between the current record and the level Vasquez said Border Patrol is working toward.

The current figure, 21,471, now stands as the clearest measure of how far that campaign has progressed. Whether through direct hiring incentives, veteran-focused pathways or funding support from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, CBP is presenting the record as proof that its recruitment efforts are producing more Border Patrol agents on duty than at any other point in the service’s 102-year history.