General attorney

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About DHS-ICE-OPLA

Launch a prestigious career as an attorney with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Southwest Border Region! Join a legal team dedicated to defending the nation’s immigration laws and safeguarding the United States with expertise and integrity. OPLA’s Southwest Border Region stretches across approximately 1,900 miles of international boundary between the United States and Mexico, encompassing multiple time zones and three federal judicial circuits (5th, 9th, and 10th). This expansive Region is home to numerous detention centers—including the nation’s only family residential facility—and is served by dozens of immigration judges who manage a diverse and high-volume docket of cases. The Southwest Border Region legal teams work in close partnership with other DHS components such as Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Southwest Border Legal team also provides legal advice and training to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. The Southwest Border Region also hosts two Centers of Excellence: INTERPOL, which facilitates international law enforcement collaboration, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs), who strengthen federal prosecution efforts. If you are a passionate legal professional and ready to serve your country, join OPLA and become a vital part of homeland security. The Southwest Border Region has openings in Arizona (Phoenix, Eloy, Florence, Tucson) California (El Centro, Imperial, San Diego), New Mexico (Chaparral), and Texas (El Paso, Harlingen, Laredo, Los Fresnos, Pearsall, San Antonio).

Duties

OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens. After going through a robust training program, the selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft supportable legal positions to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal advice to ICE officers and agents. OPLA provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.

Qualifications

If you are a recent 2026 law school graduate who is awaiting bar results, you may apply for a temporary position as a law clerk. (Law clerks have 14 months to become a fully licensed attorney and convert to a permanent attorney position.) Please submit a copy of your law school transcript showing that a J.D. has been conferred. Licensed attorneys must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must also be a U.S. citizen. Candidates will undergo a background check, including a drug test, criminal records check, and a credit check. Ability to obtain a security clearance is required. Relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. This job is neither remote nor telework eligible. Occasional travel may be required. OPLA is funded through 2029, providing stability for our operations and reducing reliance on the annual congressional appropriations process. A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. If you are a male born after 12/31/59, you must certify registration with the Selective Service.

Application instructions

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a copy of your bar card or letter of good standing to: [email protected]. (Law clerk applicants must also submit a copy of their law school transcript.)

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