Border Patrol Needs a Staffing Model to Better Plan for Hiring More Agents

We determined that Border Patrol lacks the data and procedures needed to determine whether it is meeting workload requirements related to investigative and law enforcement activities. Although directed by Congress in 2011, neither U.S. Border Protection (CBP) nor Border Patrol has completed or submitted a satisfactory workforce staffing model as required. Additionally, Border Patrol officials do not consistently schedule agents’ work duties or accurately document actual work hours and duties completed. In fiscal year 2017, Border Patrol agents received approximately $55.2 million for 1.3 million hours of work that had no supporting documentation to show they were working as needed to fulfill mission requirements. We recommended that CBP and Border Patrol expedite development and implementation of a workforce staffing model and that Border Patrol develop and implement procedures, training, and internal controls for the Border Patrol Enforcement Tracking System. CBP and Border Patrol concurred with both our recommendations.