FBI careers and training in Puerto Rico are overseen by the FBI San Juan Division, which has a field office on Carlos Chardon Avenue in San Juan. The San Juan Division covers all 78 municipalities across Puerto Rico, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Further, the FBI San Juan Division has a number of satellite offices in Puerto Rico:
- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico – The Aguadilla satellite office includes the municipalities of: Maricao, Lajas, Aguada, Añasco, Cabo Rojo, Aguadilla, Camuy, Moca, San German, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Isabela, Lares, Las Marias, Mayaguez, Quebradillas, Rincon, Sabana Grande, and San Sebatian.
- Fajardo, Puerto Rico – The Fajardo satellite office includes the municipalities of: Maunabo, Ceiba, Culebra, San Lorenzo, Fajardo, Arroyo, Humacao, Juncos, Vieques, Las Piedras, Luquillo, Naguabo, Patillas, Rio Grande, and Yabucoa.
- Ponce, Puerto Rico – The Ponco satellite office includes the municipalities of: Aibonito, Barranquitas, Adjuntas, Coamo, Guanica, Guayama, Santa Isabel, Guayanilla, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Peñuelas, Ponce, Salinas, Orocovis, Villalba, and Yauco.
History and Activity of the FBI in Puerto Rico
The FBI has had a presence in Puerto Rico for many years, first operating during World War I and then again in the late 1930s. However, it wasn’t until World War II that the FBI realized a permanent field office in Puerto Rico was in order. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover felt that opening the San Juan, Puerto Rico field office was of particular importance because the FBI should have a “channel of information and data” in the Caribbean Sea.
During World War II, the San Juan, Puerto Rico agents dealt with a number of sabotage investigations and interned enemy ships. Following the war and up until the 1970s, the San Juan division dealt primarily with criminal activity among Puerto Rico nationalist groups. Because many of the members of the nationalist groups had roots in Puerto Rico, it was the job of the FBI Agents in the San Juan Division to follow up with investigations. Following the events of 9/11, the San Juan Division shifted its priorities to deal with counterterrorism and threats to Puerto Rico.
The San Juan Division in Puerto Rico has established strategic partnerships that have allowed FBI Agents in Puerto Rico to work with colleagues from a number of public and private sector task forces, alliances, groups, and fusion centers.
For example, the San Juan Violent Crimes Task Force works with detectives from the Puerto Rico Police Department, while the Safe Streets Task Force includes members of the Puerto Rico Police Department, the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections, the San Juan Police Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Other FBI partnerships in Puerto Rico include:
- San Juan Joint Terrorism Task Force
- San Juan Field Intelligence Group
- FBI Counterintelligence Strategic Partnership Program
- InfraGard Chapter
How to Become an FBI Agent in Puerto Rico: FBI Requirements in Puerto Rico
There are a multitude of FBI jobs in Puerto Rico available through the FBI San Juan Division and the satellite offices of Aguadilla, Fajardo, and Ponce in Puerto Rico. In addition to FBI Special Agents, the FBI Puerto Rico has a number of FBI Agent careers in Puerto Rico, including:
- Intelligence Analysts
- Financial Analysts
- Investigative Specialists
- Language Specialists
- Paralegals
- Security Experts
- Electronics Technicians
- Support Services Technicians
The FBI Agents in Puerto Rico often work in collaborative teams, such as Evidence Response Teams, which include FBI Special Agents; the Computer Analysis and Response Team, which include Forensic Examiners; a 15-member SWAT Team; and Special Agent Bomb Technician groups.
Although requirements for FBI jobs in Puerto Rico depend largely on the FBI career, all FBI Agents must meet specific FBI entry requirements, including:
- U.S. citizen
- Between the ages of 23 and 36 (with the exception of Veterans, who may be older than 36)
- A four-year degree from an accredited college or university
- A valid U.S. driver’s license
- At least 2 years of professional work experience
Further, individuals who want to learn how to become an FBI Agent in Puerto Rico must know that all candidates must pass an FBI background check, a physical fitness evaluation, and a medical evaluation to be eligible for FBI jobs in Puerto Rico.