Description

Join the appellate practitioners within the Immigration Law and Practice Division (ILPD) or federal litigation practitioners within the District Court Litigation Division (DCLD) at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) across the country and assist in shaping immigration law and leveraging your legal experience to protect our homeland. This position offers up to $50,000 in signing and retention bonuses. 

To be considered, applicants must submit a résumé and cover letter to OPLA-E&[email protected]. Applicants may apply for positions with ILPLD and DCLD in one or more of the locations identified below and should indicate their order of preference for both the desired division and location in their cover letter.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and OPLA will seek to fill vacancies as soon as possible. 

OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing nearly 2,000 attorneys nationwide. OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices and serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). 

ILPD

Selected attorneys for ILPD will primarily serve as DHS’s appellate counsel before the U.S. Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of EOIR, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in administrative removal cases brought by DHS agents and officers, including those against criminal aliens, terrorists, and human rights abusers. ILPD attorneys: 

Provide immigration law subject-matter expertise and appellate advocacy before the BIA, including the preparation of briefs, motions, and other pleadings, 

Represent ICE’s interests in federal court litigation on novel or complex immigration law issues, regularly contribute to document review in federal civil discovery, and provide legal advice and support to the other ICE components and litigation support to United States Attorney’s Offices in immigration or customs matters, as necessary, and

Work with other OPLA Headquarters divisions and OPLA field locations, DHS Office of the General Counsel Headquarters (OGC HQ), certain DOJ components, including the Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL), and other ICE and DHS personnel on a wide range of substantive issues related to immigration law.

DCLD

Selected attorneys for DCLD will primarily serve as DHS’s agency counsel by representing agency interests in civil litigation and through the adjudication of administrative tort claims. DCLD attorneys work closely with DHS OGC HQ, other DHS component legal offices, and DOJ entities, such as Civil Division, including OIL, Torts Branch, as well as U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the nation. DCLD attorneys: 

Manage federal civil litigation against ICE and cases that otherwise impact ICE equities; 

Assist ICE personnel, OGC HQ, and DOJ in all aspects of federal civil litigation, including: the development of legal strategy and arguments, motion practice, discovery, settlement negotiations, trials, and appeals in cases ranging from common-law torts suits, lawsuits under and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and suits seeking injunctive or declaratory relief under the Constitution, including class actions;  

Adjudicate administrative claims for personal injuries and property damage pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680;  
Provide oral and written guidance to ICE leadership and employees, and conduct training, regarding litigation risks; and  

Represent ICE’s interests in litigation-related discussions with other agencies and DHS components. 

In light of the nature of OPLA’s work, attorney assignments are fast-paced, high-profile, and need to be addressed in real-time. The attorneys selected in response to this announcement will be given significant responsibilities on an immediate basis. Selectees must possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, characteristics, and competencies: applicants must be adept at prioritizing multiple assignments, exercising sound legal and practical judgment, efficiently producing quality legal analyses of complex legal issues, and working effectively in a fast-paced environment. Applicants should also demonstrate the ability to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner.

These positions are available at the GS-11 through GS-14 pay grade and there are numerous positions open in the following locations: 

Baltimore, MD
Cleveland, OH
Columbus, OH
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Grand Rapids, MI
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Newark, NJ
Orlando, FL
Seattle, WA