Duties
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, Review, litigating cases involving criminal aliens, terrorists, human rights violators, and other priority aliens.
OPLA's Headquarters Enforcement and Litigation divisions advance ICE's homeland security and public safety mission by enforcing our nation's immigration, customs, and criminal laws and policies, defending the operational authorities and decisions of ICE officers and agents in the federal courts, and guiding and supporting the advocacy of ICE attorneys before the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), with special emphasis on cases involving criminal aliens, human rights violators, and aliens who threaten our national security. Specifically, within OPLA Headquarters Enforcement and Litigation:
ILPD attorneys review DHS appeals filed with the BIA, represent DHS in briefing before the Attorney General and in oral arguments and supplemental briefing before the BIA, and coordinate closely with DOJ and the DHS Office of the General Counsel Headquarters (OGC HQ) to pursue further review of adverse federal court immigration decisions. ILPD provides guidance to OPLA Field Locations, agency leadership, Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, DHS OGC HQ, and various DOJ components on a wide range of substantive immigration law issues, including, but not limited to, criminal grounds of removability, bond proceedings, and extradition. ILPD also provides specialized legal advice on matters involving refugees, asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture, and Temporary Protected Status, and advances OPLA's efforts to combat protection law-related fraud.
NSLD attorneys provide nationwide oversight and support for OPLA's litigation of national security issues before DOJ's Executive Office for Immigration Review. NSLD coordinates with and provides guidance to the OPLA Field Locations litigating the removal proceedings of individuals with national security concerns, including terrorists, foreign intelligence agents, and export violators. NSLD collaborates with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Intelligence Community, and the Department of State, as well as the National Security, Civil, and Criminal Divisions of DOJ on immigration issues involving national security matters. In addition, NSLD provides support in criminal prosecutions and federal litigation involving immigration-related national security issues, including developing case strategies, reviewing pleadings, substantive motions, and briefing papers, and providing litigation recommendations. NSLD frequently engages with ICE leadership, DOJ, and DHS OGC HQ attorneys to coordinate the successful resolution of national security cases. NSLD also provides administrative law support to the HSI Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which was established by Congress in response to the 9/11 attacks. SEVP provides integrity to the U.S. immigration system by collecting, maintaining, and analyzing information so legitimate nonimmigrant students enter the United States, and ensures that the academic institutions accepting nonimmigrant students are certified and complying with federal regulations.
Selected attorneys will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft persuasive, legally supportable positions to address the needs of agency operational components. Selected attorneys will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, division management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and the DHS Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. Selected attorneys will also provide litigation support to DOJ.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12796119 and submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below.
The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/22/2025 to receive consideration.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
If you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Required Documents
You must include all required documentation, as set forth below, with your application package before the closing date. No extensions will be granted. Failure to provide all of the required information as listed in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect your overall rating.
Cover Letter: Your cover letter must discuss your interest in the position; your pertinent knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience; and your personal characteristics and competencies that qualify you for the position as detailed in the Duties and Qualifications sections of this announcement. Your cover letter must also include your full name; home address; home or work e-mail address(es); phone number(s) where we may contact you (cell, work, and/or home); name of law school, year of graduation, and year admitted to the bar.
Resume: Your resume must include your complete contact information (physical address, phone number, email address), work experience and education. For each work experience listed, please include job title, duties, employer's name, employer's telephone number, employer's address, and starting and ending dates (MM/YY). Please indicate whether we may contact your current supervisor.
Bar Membership/Certificate of Good Standing: Submit a copy of your bar card, certificate of good standing, or other documentary evidence to prove that you are an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, a U.S. a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
If you are a current or former federal employee: Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
If you are a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee: Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information about your most recent political appointment: Position title, type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), agency and beginning and ending dates of appointment.
Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable): You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.
You may be asked to provide a writing sample, and/or a copy of your recent performance appraisal.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12796119 and submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below.
The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/22/2025 to receive consideration.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
If you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.
Next steps
You will receive an acknowledgement email confirmation once you have successfully submitted your application. Applications will be reviewed for completeness. Failure to provide all required documentation as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating. Eligible applicants will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration as vacancies become available. Highly qualified applicants may be contacted for an interview. If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer. Upon acceptance, the drug test and the suitability/background investigation will be initiated.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and OMB plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.