Tucson Standard

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) led a push this week in the House of Representatives to ensure U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents receive promised overtime pay.

Despite Congress authorizing and appropriating funding for overtime, reports from agents indicate confusion around the timing of these payments. In a letter to Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Troy Miller, Ciscomani pressed CBP to provide Congress and Border Patrol agents with an update on the timing of the overtime pay.

“As you know, our agents are overworked and overwhelmed with the number of migrants they are encountering this year,” said Ciscomani in the letter. “Additionally, morale at USBP is at an all-time low, and recent reports indicate a large number of early retirements. Ensuring agents have the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding their pay and benefits is crucial.”

In the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress authorized time-and-a-half overtime pay for GS-12 Border Patrol agents. Following the passage of the NDAA, Congress then appropriated over $372 million in the FY24 appropriations package for overtime pay and other adjustments.

The Arizona congressman was joined on the letter by 27 of his House Republican colleagues.