Sikh Immigrant Justice Fellow (1-Year Fellowship)

The Sikh Coalition; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Professional development support

Job summary

A prominent civil rights organization in New York is seeking a Sikh Immigrant Justice Fellow for a one-year fellowship. The role involves supporting the Legal Team to assist detained Sikh immigrants by conducting intakes, gathering documents, and liaising with families. Ideal candidates should have at least 2 years of relevant experience, strong writing skills, and a commitment to immigrant rights. Comprehensive benefits are included, along with a salary range of $60,000 to $65,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 2+ years experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or related role.
• Commitment to immigrant and civil rights.
• Ability to travel for detention visits and community outreach.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes with Sikh detainees facing unlawful arrest.
• Gather documents for habeas petitions and other filings.
• Coordinate interpretation and translation needs in Punjabi/English.

Skills

Writing

Organization

Attention to detail

Compassion

Punjabi language skills

Job description

Sikh Immigrant Justice Fellow (1-Year Fellowship)

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by The Sikh Coalition. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$60,000.00/yr - $65,000.00/yr

About the Sikh Coalition

The Sikh Coalition is the nation’s largest Sikh civil rights organization, dedicated to safeguarding the rights of all individuals while advancing justice for the Sikh community. Sikh immigrants, alongside other minority community members, now face high risks of detention and deportation due to the current administration’s mass deportation agenda. Once detained, Sikh immigrants often lack access to religious accommodations, language support, and culturally competent legal representation. To address this systemic gap, the Sikh Coalition is launching a national habeas litigation project to challenge the unlawful arrests and wrongful deportations of Sikh immigrants, as well as the dangerous and discriminatory detention conditions they face.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Sikh Immigrant Justice Fellow for a one-year full‑time fellowship with our legal team with the possibility of a one-year extension dependent on funding. Under the supervision of Legal Director Munmeeth Kaur, the Justice Fellow will support the Sikh Coalition’s Legal Team’s representation of detained Sikh immigrants by conducting intakes, gathering documents, assisting with federal filings, coordinating language access, liaising with families, and supporting pro bono partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes with Sikh detainees facing unlawful arrest, confinement, or deportation.
• Gather documents for habeas petitions, TROs, and other filings.
• Research relevant court rules and procedures.
• Draft declarations, case summaries, and evidence memos.
• Coordinate interpretation and translation needs, especially in Punjabi/English.
• Maintain case files, databases, calendars, and deadlines.
• Assist with federal filings, including preparing exhibits and organizing records.
• Communicate with pro bono attorneys, community partners, and detention facilities.
• Support Know Your Rights outreach and creation of Punjabi/English legal resources.

Qualifications

• 2+ years experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or related role OR relevant experience supporting immigrant communities.
• Strong writing and organization skills, and sharp attention to detail.
• Commitment to immigrant and civil rights.
• Ability to work compassionately with detained individuals and families.
• Ability to travel for detention visits, hearings, and community outreach.
• Preferred: Punjabi language skills; experience with immigration law or detention work; familiarity with Sikh religious practices.

Salary range: $60,000 - $65,000

Comprehensive benefits include health insurance, PTO, and professional development support.

How to Apply

Send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and 2–3 references.

The Sikh Coalition is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from Sikh community members and individuals with lived experience in immigrant communities.

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