Supervisory Immigration Judge (Assistant Chief Immigration Judge) Job

Vacancy No. ACIJ-12768493-25-TNN Department Executive Office for Immigration Review
Salary $159,951.00 to $207,500.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/18/2025 Close Date 1/16/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Eloy, AZFlorence, AZPhoenix, AZTucson, AZ


Summary

Conversion to permanent position is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a probationary period and appointment by the Attorney General.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be reviewed after the following cut-off dates: August 1, 2025, August 15, 2025, August 29, 2025, September 12, 2025, September 26, 2025, October 10, 2025, October 24, 2025, November 7, 2025, November 21, 2025, December 5, 2025, December 19, 2025, January 2, 2026, and final closing date of January 16, 2026.

Duties

This position is in the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Office of the Chief Immigration Judge. EOIR seeks highly-qualified individuals to join our team of expert professionals who serve as immigration adjudicators in this important Agency.

EOIR's mission is to adjudicate immigration cases fairly, equitably, and efficiently at the trial and appellate level, governed by due process and the rule of law. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR conducts immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and other administrative hearings, applying the immigration laws while ensuring that adjudicators are impartial, that laws are applied humanely and equitable, that all parties are treated with respect and dignity, and that cases are resolved expeditiously and in accordance with the Administration's priorities and all applicable laws and regulations.

EOIR consists of three adjudicatory components: the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is responsible for managing the numerous immigration courts located throughout the United States where immigration judges adjudicate individual cases; the Board of Immigration Appeals, which primarily conducts appellate reviews of the immigration judges' decisions; and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, which adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR's Headquarters is located in Falls Church, Virginia, about 10 miles from downtown Washington, DC.

As Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, the incumbent serves as a principal assistant to the Chief Immigration Judge and/or Principle Deputy Chief Immigration Judge and Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judges in managing and coordinating Immigration Judge activities throughout the United States and in supervising the administrative operations of the program. As necessary, the incumbent also presides as an Immigration Judge in formal, quasi-judicial hearings, and enters decisions that are final, subject to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Responsibilities:

  • Assisting the Chief Immigration Judge and/or Deputy Chief Immigration Judge in managing and coordinating Immigration Judge activities and in supervising the administrative operations of the program.
  • Assisting in development of policy and procedure for the operations of the program, determining and accounting for resource needs, evaluating and adjusting broad objectives as needed, determining need for and effecting changes in organizational structure and delegation of authority, and establishing effective internal and external communication channels.
  • Participating with the Chief Immigration Judge and/or Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judge in the formulation of Executive Office for Immigration Review programs and policies.
  • Analyzing programs and projects and prepares reports to the OCIJ leadership, recommending adoption or rejection of policy changes.
  • Providing legal counsel and advice to the OCIJ leadership on matters pertaining to the Immigration and Nationality Act and all other applicable law.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Employment is contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Selectee(s) must be able to obtain and maintain a top secret clearance.
  • Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
  • Moving and Relocation Expense are not authorized.
  • Relevant experience (see qualifications below.)
  • Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • You must file a financial disclosure statement in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Conversion to permanent position is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a probationary period and appointment by the Attorney General.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Supervisory Immigration Judge (Assistant Chief Immigration Judge) position, applicants must meet all of the following minimum qualifications:
  • Education: Applicants must possess a LL.B., J.D., or LL.M. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)
AND
  • Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.)
AND
  • Experience: Applicants must have seven (7) years of post-bar admission experience as a licensed attorney preparing for, participating in, and/or appealing court or administrative agency proceedings at the Federal, State or local level. Qualifying trial experience involves cases in which a complaint was filed with a court or administrative agency, or a charging document (e.g., indictment, notice of violation, or information) was issued by a court, administrative entity, a grand jury, or appropriate military authority. Relevant administrative experience includes cases in which a formal procedure was initiated by a governmental administrative body.
NOTE: Qualifying experience is calculated only after bar admission.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your assessment questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name; position title; Federal grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

Additional information

Additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.

In addition to the minimum qualifications above, applicants must submit a Writing Sample, not to exceed ten (10) pages, demonstrating their ability to author legal documents and a document addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs). (See "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.) Failure to submit these documents will result in your application package being removed from consideration.

There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to ACIJ appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in ACIJ hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must claim their status when completing their application in the online application process and attach supporting documentation. (See "Required Documents" section.)

Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.

***Once your application is submitted, through USAJOBS, you will not be able to make any changes, edits, or updates to your application package. Please review your documentation carefully before submitting to ensure all required materials are included and accurate. Incomplete applications will not be considered.***

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications listed above.

Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be further evaluated to determine those who are best qualified. This determination will be based, in part, on the following Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs):

  1. Ability to demonstrate the appropriate temperament to serve as a judge.
  2. Knowledge of immigration laws and procedures.
  3. Litigation or adjudication experience, preferably in a high volume judicial or administrative context.
  4. Experience handling complex legal issues.
  5. Experience conducting administrative hearings or adjudicating administrative cases.
  6. Experience serving in a managerial or supervisory capacity, preferably of judges, attorneys or other legal professionals.
Applicants are required to address each of the six (6) QRFs in narrative form, to the best of the applicant's ability. A response stating only that the applicant does not have experience will not be considered as addressing the affected QRF. Applicants that do not have experience within a specific factor should instead discuss a similar skill/ability/knowledge/experience for evaluation. Failure to address each factor at this minimum level will result in an ineligible determination. The QRFs must be addressed on a separate document which indicates the number of the specific QRF you are addressing. Applicants should be thorough in addressing the QRFs. For example, applicants addressing QRF #3 (litigation or adjudication experience) should discuss the approximate number of cases or matters handled in a given period of time, the applicant's specific role (e.g. adjudicator, first chair, co-counsel, responsible for the written brief only, etc.), and the length of time involved in a given role (e.g. lead counsel in 20 immigration proceedings in 10 years). Applicants should also include specific examples of the types of cases (asylum application, plea, settlement, bench trial, jury trial, etc.), the number of court and administrative appearances made in those cases, and the case dispositions (ruling on the merits, plea or similar resolution, settlement, trial, jury trial, etc.) Conclusory statements (such as "the applicant has been involved in a substantial amount of litigation") without further elaboration will receive little or no weight in the evaluation of the QRFs.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/16/2026, the closing date of this announcement, which includes:

  1. Your Resume documenting seven (7) years of post-bar admission legal experience in litigation and/or administrative law; Cover Letter optional.
  2. A complete online Assessment Questionnaire.
  3. Document(s)addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs). (See "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.)
  4. Writing Sample demonstrating your ability to author legal documents.(One (1) document, not to exceed 10 pages.)
  5. Current or former Federal employees must provide copies of their most recent Performance Appraisal and their latest SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
  6. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable:
    • Veterans' Preference Documentation: Although the veterans' preference point system does not apply to this position, we accept preference claims and adjudicate such claims per the documentation provided. Note: If claiming 5-point veterans' preference, include a DD-214 or statement of service. If claiming 10-point veterans' preference, include an SF-15 and documentation required by that form, VA or military letter dated 1991 or later, and DD-214.
    • Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
Note: Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information. Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name; position title; Federal grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed. In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

Failure to submit the documents listed above with your application package will result in your application package being removed from consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/16/2026, the closing date of the announcement.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  • Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

Agency contact information

Immigration Judge Hiring Team
Address
Office of the Chief Immigration Judge
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US

Next steps

We will evaluate the qualifications and eligibility of all applicants, and then assess those who meet the minimum qualifications. All candidates who meet all the minimum requirements will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration. We will notify you of the final outcome after all of these steps have been completed.

Additional Locations

  • Adelanto Immigration Court Adelanto, CA
  • Concord Immigration Court Concord, CA
  • Imperial Immigration Court Imperial, CA
  • Los Angeles (North) Immigration Court Los Angeles, CA
  • Los Angeles (West) Immigration Court Los Angeles, CA
  • Otay Mesa Immigration Court Otay, CA
  • Sacramento Immigration Court Sacramento County, CA
  • San Diego Immigration Court San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco Immigration Court San Francisco, CA
  • Santa Ana Immigration Court Santa Ana, CA
  • Los Angeles (Van Nuys) Immigration Court Van Nuys, CA
  • Aurora Immigration Court Aurora, CO
  • Denver Immigration Court Denver, CO
  • Hartford Immigration Court Hartford County, CT
  • Miami Immigration Court Miami, FL
  • Miami (Krome) Immigration Court Miami, FL
  • Orlando Immigration Court Orlando, FL
  • Atlanta (Peachtree) Immigration Court Atlanta, GA
  • Atlanta (Ted Turner) Immigration Court Atlanta, GA
  • Stewart Immigration Court Lumpkin, GA
  • Honolulu Immigration Court Honolulu, HI
  • Chicago Immigration Court Chicago, IL
  • Indianapolis Immigration Court Indianapolis, IN
  • Baton Rouge Immigration Court Baton Rouge, LA
  • LaSalle Immigration Court Jena, LA
  • New Orleans Immigration Court New Orleans, LA
  • Oakdale Immigration Court Oakdale, LA
  • Boston Immigration Court Boston, MA
  • Chelmsford Immigration Court Chelmsford, MA
  • Baltimore Immigation Court Baltimore, MD
  • Hyattsville Immigration Court Hyattsville, MD
  • Detroit Immigration Court Detroit, MI
  • Fort Snelling Immigration Court Fort Snelling, MN
  • Kansas City Immigration Court Kansas City, MO
  • Charlotte Immigration Court Charlotte, NC
  • Omaha Immigration Court Omaha, NE
  • Elizabeth Immigration Court Elizabeth, NJ
  • Newark Immigration Court Newark, NJ
  • Otero Immigration Court Otero County, NM
  • Las Vegas Immigration Court Las Vegas, NV
  • Batavia Immigration Court Batavia, NY
  • Buffalo Immigration Court Buffalo, NY
  • New York (Broadway) Immigration Court New York, NY
  • New York (Federal Plaza) Immigration Court New York County, NY
  • New York (Varick) Immigration Court New York Mills, NY
  • Ulster Immigration Court Ulster County, NY
  • Cleveland Immigration Court Cleveland, OH
  • Portland Immigration Court Portland, OR
  • Philadelphia Immigration Court Philadelphia, PA
  • San Juan Immigration Court Guaynabo, PR
  • Memphis Immigration Court Memphis, TN
  • Conroe Immigration Court Conroe, TX
  • Dallas Immigration Court Dallas, TX
  • El Paso (SPC) Immigration Court El Paso, TX
  • El Paso Immigration Court El Paso, TX
  • Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center (FWIAC) Fort Worth, TX
  • Harlingen Immigration Court Harlingen, TX
  • Houston Jefferson Street Immigration Court Houston, TX
  • Houston S. Gessner Immigration Court Houston, TX
  • Houston Greenspoint Park Immigration Court Houston, TX
  • Laredo Immigration Court Laredo, TX
  • Pearsall Immigration Court Pearsall, TX
  • Port Isabel Immigration Court Port Isabel, TX
  • San Antonio Immigration Court San Antonio, TX
  • Salt Lake City Immigration Court Salt Lake City, UT
  • Annandale Immigration Court Annandale, VA
  • Falls Church Immigration Adjudication Center (FCIAC) Falls Church, VA
  • Richmond Immigration Adjudication Center (IAC) Immigration Court Richmond, VA
  • Sterling Immigration Court Sterling, VA
  • Seattle Immigration Court Seattle, WA
  • Tacoma Immigration Court Tacoma, WA


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


© 2006-2025, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements