The United States Marshals Service (USMS) in New Mexico is staffed with highly trained deputies who are called upon to serve as the federal law enforcement arm of the federal judiciary. Their work includes providing operational support, investigations and apprehensions, and judicial security, among others.
As part of their apprehension and investigative efforts, U.S. marshals in New Mexico organize a number of task forces, all of which were created for the same purpose: to combine resources with federal, state and local partners to ensure their agency’s mission is carried out to the best of its ability.
How to Become a U.S. Marshal in New Mexico
As a federal law enforcement agency, the U.S. Marshals Service demands only the most highly skilled and trained individuals. Therefore, the job description of a U.S. marshal in New Mexico highlights the minimum qualifications for a career in the USMS.
Candidates for U.S. marshal jobs in New Mexico must:
- Be United States citizens
- Be between the ages of 21 and 36
- Possess a valid driver’s license
Candidates must also meet the requirements of the GL-7 level, which include qualifying through education, experience, or a combination of the two:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with superior academic achievement (defined as a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA in courses related to the major course of study); OR
- At least one full year of graduate-level study in a program related to law enforcement (may include majors such as criminal justice, police science, criminology, emergency management, etc.); OR
- At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-5 level
In addition to completing the pre-employment process, which including a competitive exam, a physical fitness exam, a medical exam, a panel interview, and a background investigation (all of which can take 9 to 12 months), candidates for U.S. marshal jobs in New Mexico must complete a mandatory basic training program, which requires 17 ½ weeks of training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.
U.S. Marshal Promotion Potential and Benefits
All U.S. marshal jobs in New Mexico are filled at the GL-7 level, which earns a salary of between $38,511 and $48,708. However, all U.S. marshals are eligible for a promotion to the GL-9 level after one year, followed by the GL-11 one year after.
All U.S. marshals are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System, which includes a three-tiered system: pension plan, social security, and Thrift Savings Plan.
They are also afforded a number of benefits, including annual leave, which is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period during the first three years, as well as sick leave, health benefits, and life insurance.
Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT)
The Southwest Investigative Fugitive Teams (SWIFT) in Albuquerque and Las Cruces were created by the USMS to better the apprehension efforts of fugitives at both the state and federal level.
Just a few of the partnering agencies of SWIFT – Albuquerque include:
- New Mexico State Police
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- New Mexico Probation and Parole
- Albuquerque Police Department
- Rio Rancho Police Department
- Bernalillo County Sherif’s Office
Just a few of the partnering agencies of SWIFT- Las Cruces include:
- Las Cruces Police Department
- Dona Ana County District Attorney’s office
The USMS District of New Mexico operates out of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Roswell, and Las Cruces.