Border Patrol Recruitment Enhancement Act

Polygraph waiver for officers and veterans

This bill would let the CBP Commissioner waive the polygraph requirement for certain applicants. It would apply to full-time state or local law enforcement officers, federal law enforcement officers, and members or veterans of the Armed Forces. Eligible applicants would generally need at least 3 years of service and no recent disciplinary or criminal issues. Some applicants would also need recent background investigations or prior polygraph verification, for example Top Secret-level checks or a polygraph within 10 years. A waiver would not exempt recipients from other hiring, suitability, or national-security vetting. CBP could still require a polygraph if new disqualifying information appears before a background check is finished. The waiver authority would start on enactment and end five years after enactment. A waiver would not guarantee hiring.