General Attorney (SAUSA-Public Integrity)

Customs and Border Protection; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 108,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Customs and Border Protection in Tucson, AZ, seeks a Special U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) to litigate public integrity cases involving CBP employees. This temporary position is not to exceed 2 years, with potential extension up to another 2 years, starting at GS-13/GS-14 pay scales.

The SAUSA will be detailed to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona to maximize investigations, prosecutions, and litigation with a nexus to integrity, fraud, public corruption, civil rights, and related

Qualifications

• Graduate from a full ABA-accredited law school and active bar member in good standing.
• Specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years.
• Experience handling criminal or civil litigation, including court appearances.

Responsibilities

• Represent the United States in federal civil and criminal actions with nexus to integrity and civil rights.
• Conduct investigations, hearings, trials and appeals as SAUSA.
• Provide legal training related to investigations involving CBP personnel or operations.

Skills

Criminal litigation

Civil litigation

Public integrity investigations

Education

ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Chief Counsel, located in Tucson, Arizona.
The successful candidate serves as a Special U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), litigating public integrity cases involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees.
This position is Temporary and Not to Exceed 2 years with the ability to extend for an additional 2 years.

Duties

This announcement has been extended and will close on 10/09/2026
This position is for a General Attorney (SAUSA - Public Integrity) in the Office of Associate Chief Counsel located in Tucson, AZ. The incumbent of this position will be detailed as a SAUSA to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. The purpose of this appointment will be to maximize the effectiveness of investigations, prosecutions, and litigation with the nexus to integrity, fraud, public, corruption, procurement fraud, and civil rights.
This position starts at a salary of $108,455.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $166,615.00 (GS-14, Step 10).

• Supporting the Department of Justice in civil and criminal actions brought in federal court with a nexus to integrity, fraud, public corruption, and civil rights, including initiation and handling of investigations.
• Representing the United States, as determined by the Department of Justice, in all stages of litigation, up to and including conducting civil and criminal hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Developing and delivering legal training to personnel with responsibility for investigations related to CBP personnel or operations.
• Supporting, as necessary, investigations led by other investigative entities when CBP is also involved in the investigation and there is a nexus to integrity, fraud, public corruption, and civils rights.
• Providing legal guidance to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in matters relating to integrity, fraud, public corruption, procurement fraud, civil rights and review of use of force incidents, or similar matters involving the internal operations of CBP or the conduct of CBP employees.

This position is Temporary and Not to Exceed 2 years with the ability to extend for an additional 2 years.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
• You may be required to pass a background investigation
• CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
• As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
• DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
• Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Qualifications

Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applicants must possess specialized professional legal experience in excess of two years that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. The quality of the individual's background may be evidenced by the relatedness of his or her specialization.

Specialized Experience: The skills and experience listed immediately below are of particular importance to the position, and applicants should provide detailed information in these areas, where applicable, as part of their application.

For this position, specialized experience is handling criminal or civil litigation cases, including appearing in court. Preferred experience includes prior

felony trial experience and those who have demonstrated the ability to prosecute from the initial investigative stage through trial.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

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.

The qualifications listed above must be met by the closing of this announcement, 10/09/2026 and are subject to verification at any stage of the application process. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.

Residency

There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:

• Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
• A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
• Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
• Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Relocation: Should relocation funding be available, expenses may be offered to the selectee as a lump-sum payment under CBP's Voluntary Relocation Plan test program (VRP). Should the selectee be offered the VRP in lieu of any relocation benefits available under the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR), 41 C.F.R., Subtitle F, Chapter 302, the amount of the lump-sum payment will vary depending on whether you rent or own your current residence and whether your residence is a single or multiple-person household. Any relocation expenses incurred that are greater than the VRP lump-sum payment amount will be your responsibility, and no subsequent claims for relocation expenses will be granted by CBP. The lump-sum payment, which will be made through direct deposit, will be treated as wages and, thus, will be subject to all