OPLA Southwest Border Region - Attorney

City of Plant City; Florence, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

OPLA Southwest Border Region in the United States is seeking an attorney to join its federal immigration law team. The role involves crafting supportable legal positions for agency components and litigating removal cases before the EOIR, representing DHS across enforcement sectors.

Recent law graduates (class of 2026) awaiting bar results may apply for a law clerk temporary position with opportunity to convert to a permanent attorney role. Active bar status is required for attorneys.

Qualifications

• Recent law school graduate (2026) awaiting bar results.
• Licensed attorneys must be an active member in good standing of a state/bar.

Responsibilities

• Craft supportable legal positions to address the needs of agency components.
• Routinely provide timely legal advice to ICE officers and agents.
• Represent DHS in removal proceedings before EOIR and support DHS prosecution efforts.

Education

Law degree / JD (recent law school graduate)

Job description

OPLA’sSouthwestBorderRegionisHiring!

Launch aprestigiouscareeras an attorney withImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement’s(ICE’s) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Southwest Border Region!Join a legal team dedicated to defending the nation’simmigration lawsand safeguardingtheUnited Stateswithexpertiseandintegrity.OPLA’sSouthwest BorderRegionstretchesacrossapproximately1,900milesofinternationalboundarybetweentheUnitedStates 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—andisservedbydozensofimmigrationjudgeswhomanageadiverseandhigh-volumedocketofcases. TheSouthwestBorderRegionlegalteamsworkinclosepartnershipwithotherDHScomponentssuchasCustoms andBorderProtection 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.TheSouthwestBorderRegionalsohoststwoCentersofExcellence:INTERPOL,whichfacilitates international law enforcement collaboration, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs), who strengthen federalprosecutionefforts.Ifyouareapassionatelegalprofessionalandreadytoserveyourcountry,joinOPLA and become a vital part of homeland security. The Southwest Border Region has openings in Arizona (Phoenix,Eloy,Florence,Tucson)California(ElCentro,Imperial,SanDiego),NewMexico(Chaparral), and Texas (El Paso, Harlingen, Laredo, Los Fresnos, Pearsall, San Antonio).

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 willimmediatelybe given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft supportable legal positions to address the needs of agency operational components.The attorney will beexpected 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.

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 permanentattorneyposition.) Licensedattorneysmustbeanactivememberingoodstandingofthebarofastate,territoryofthe UnitedStates, District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. You must also be a U.S. citizen.

Candidateswillundergoabackgroundcheck,includingadrugtest,criminalrecordscheck,andacreditcheck. Ability to obtain a security clearance is required.

Salary ranges from $73,939 to $186,785 per year based on locality pay as set out in the governmentGeneral Schedule(GS)localitypaytables.TheattorneypositionisaGS-905whichrangesfromGS-11toGS-14onthe government pay scale based on experience.Attorney positions are full-time and permanent. A student loan repayment incentive may be available, in which case a service agreement will be required.

Relocationexpenseswillnotbereimbursed.Thisjobisneitherremotenorteleworkeligible.Occasionaltravel 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.

(Law clerk applicants must also submit a copy of their law school transcript.)