🟢 Status: OPEN – Closes July 8, 2026 | 242 Duty Locations Nationwide (Negotiable After Selection) | Source: USAJOBS.gov
Job Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Criminal Investigator |
| Agency | Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) |
| Department | U.S. Department of Homeland Security |
| Announcement # | HSI-12862549-DHA |
| Pay Scale & Grade | GS-9 |
| Salary Range | $65,545 – $105,735 per year |
| Locations | Location Negotiable After Selection (242 duty locations nationwide) |
| Work Schedule | Full-time |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Service Type | Competitive Service |
| Promotion Potential | GS-13 |
| Security Clearance | Top Secret |
| Drug Test | Required (pre-employment + random) |
| Who May Apply | US Citizens — Open to the Public |
| Closing Date | July 8, 2026 |
| USAJOBS Link | Click Here to Apply |
Criminal Investigator Jobs 2026 — ICE Homeland Security Investigations | GS-9 Direct Hire | Apply USAJOBS
DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement is hiring for ICE HSI special agent jobs at the GS-9 level, with placement across 242 duty locations nationwide. This criminal investigator jobs 2026 opening runs under Direct Hire Authority through July 8, 2026, meaning the Rule of Three and traditional category rating don’t apply — every applicant who meets the qualifications moves forward for consideration. HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS and the second-largest investigative agency in the federal government, with more than 10,400 employees and over 7,100 special agents working transnational crime cases that span national security, drug smuggling, financial crimes, and human trafficking.
If you’re researching how to become an hsi special agent, this GS-9 entry point with promotion potential to GS-13 is the standard on-ramp. You don’t need prior federal law enforcement experience — relevant investigative work, a qualifying graduate degree, or a combination of both can get you there.
About the Role
HSI special agents — also called criminal investigators — work cases that span the full range of transnational crime: national security threats, drug smuggling, financial crimes, human trafficking, child exploitation, illegal arms export, and commercial fraud. This is federal law enforcement direct hire jobs territory at its most operational: you’ll use electronic surveillance, interviews, polygraph examination, and physical surveillance to build cases, make arrests, and testify in federal court.
HSI agents frequently work joint task forces alongside the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Marshals Service, plus state and local law enforcement. With gs-1811 criminal investigator jobs assignments possible at any of 242 domestic offices — and an international footprint spanning more than 50 countries — this is one of the broadest-reach criminal investigation roles in federal law enforcement.
“HSI conducts transnational criminal investigations that protect the U.S. against threats to its national security and brings to justice those seeking to exploit U.S. customs and immigration laws worldwide.” — HSI Careers, ICE.gov
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct and coordinate high-level investigations involving individuals, groups, or large organizations operating locally, nationally, or internationally
- Use electronic surveillance, interviews, polygraph examination, and physical surveillance to gather evidence
- Make arrests and secure scenes, sometimes in potentially dangerous environments
- Secure signed statements, affidavits, and documentary evidence for case records
- Prepare sworn testimony for criminal and federal grand jury cases
- Investigate programmatic areas including narcotics, money laundering, financial crimes, human trafficking, fraud, and international trade
- Perform federal, state, and local law enforcement database queries
- Conduct interviews with suspects, witnesses, sources, and victims
- Prepare reports in support of criminal or administrative actions
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| GS-9 Specialized Experience | 1 year equivalent to GS-7: investigating narcotics, money laundering, financial crimes, human trafficking, fraud, or related programmatic areas; database queries; interviews; report preparation |
| OR Education | Master’s degree (or equivalent, including LL.B/J.D.) or 2 academic years of progressively higher graduate education |
| OR Combination | Graduate education + qualifying experience that together equal 100% |
| Citizenship | U.S. Citizen required |
| Age | Must apply before the day preceding your 37th birthday (exceptions apply for prior federal civilian law enforcement service) |
| Physical/Medical | Pre-employment medical exam, psychological evaluation, and physical fitness test required |
Career Ladder & Salary by Grade
| Grade | Salary Range | Level | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 (this position) | $65,545 – $105,735/yr | Entry-level criminal investigator | 1 year GS-7 specialized experience OR master’s degree |
| Up to GS-13 | Higher, locality-adjusted | Full performance (journeyman) | Promotion potential built into this announcement |
💡 Note: This is one of the more accessible criminal investigator jobs no experience entry points in federal law enforcement — a qualifying graduate degree alone can satisfy the basic requirement, no prior 1811 series experience required.
Other Requirements
- Background investigation for Top Secret clearance, which may include a polygraph examination
- Valid driver’s license required prior to final job offer
- Mandatory completion of FLETC Criminal Investigator Training Program and HSI Special Agent Training Program (~22 weeks)
- Must live within 50 miles of duty station
- Mobility Agreement required
- Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) — unscheduled overtime expected
Salary & Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | $65,545 – $105,735/year (GS-9), locality-adjusted |
| LEAP | Law Enforcement Availability Pay for unscheduled overtime |
| Student Loan Repayment | May be available with signed service agreement |
| Paid Time Off | 26 days vacation + 13 sick days/year |
| Federal Holidays | 11 paid federal holidays |
| Health Insurance | FEHB |
| Dental & Vision | FEDVIP |
| Retirement | Law Enforcement FERS (retire at 50/20 years) |
| TSP (401k) | 5% government matching |
| Life Insurance | FEGLI |
| Additional Perks | Tuition reimbursement, transportation subsidies, uniform allowance, fitness centers |
How to Apply
- Create a USAJOBS.gov account if you don’t already have one.
- Build your federal resume — limit to two pages. Be specific and detailed; HSI reviewers will not make assumptions about your experience.
- Complete the announcement questionnaire, including four optional essay questions highlighting your dedication to public service (not scored, but reviewed by leadership).
- Submit required documents: resume, transcripts if qualifying by education, veterans’ preference documentation if applicable, and any maximum-age exemption documentation if relevant.
- Pass the assessment process, including the Writing Skills Test and Logical Reasoning Assessment used in HSI’s Phase II evaluation.
- Clear the full background process: medical exam, psychological evaluation, physical fitness test, and polygraph (if referred).
- Complete Basic Training at FLETC — the Criminal Investigator Training Program plus the HSI Special Agent Training Program, roughly 22 weeks total.
⚠️ Important: This announcement closes July 8, 2026, with rolling cut-off dates for referral to hiring managers. Apply early — Direct Hire Authority means qualified candidates can be reviewed and selected before the final closing date. Apply directly at USAJOBS.gov.
Veterans’ Preference
Direct Hire Authority means the Rule of Three and traditional Veterans’ Preference scoring don’t formally apply to this announcement. That said, ICE still encourages eligible veterans to include their preference information and supporting documentation (DD-214 or equivalent) in their application — it can matter for related vacancies and is good practice regardless. The maximum-age restriction for Criminal Investigator positions (37th birthday) doesn’t apply to qualified preference-eligible veterans or those with prior federal civilian law enforcement service. Veterans, Peace Corps and VISTA alumni, and persons with disabilities may also qualify for non-competitive appointment paths — check with HSI’s HR office for eligibility.
About U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE protects America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety, enforcing more than 400 federal statutes. Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s principal investigative arm, was formed after 9/11 through the merger of the U.S. Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service investigative divisions. Today HSI employs more than 10,400 people, including over 7,100 special agents working out of 250+ domestic offices and more than 50 countries internationally — making it DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad.
FederalJobsAlert.us is an independent job notification website. This listing is sourced from USAJOBS.gov for informational purposes only. Always verify the latest details and apply directly at usajobs.gov/job/853999100. We are not affiliated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, or any US government agency.
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