Summary

Launch a prestigious career as an Attorney with ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)! Rejoin a legal team dedicated to defending the nation's immigration laws and safeguarding the United States with expertise and integrity.

This role may offer up to $50,000 in signing bonuses.

If you're a passionate legal professional and ready to serve your country, join OPLA and become a vital part of homeland security!

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Retirees under Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who are eligible for re-employment as a Federal Annuitant. Retired applicants must be retired on or before the opening date of this announcement.

Duties

OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employing over 1,700 attorneys nationwide. In addition to Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there are 24 OPLA Field Locations in more than 60 cities throughout the United States. 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. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices.

OPLA attorneys provide legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal and employment law. OPLA attorneys represent the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Contract Board of Appeals. OPLA attorneys support the Department of Justice in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE.

The selected attorney will immediately be given significant responsibilities and will be expected to craft legally supportable policies to address the needs of agency operational components. The attorney will be expected to routinely provide timely legal opinions to ICE officers and agents, management, and leadership within OPLA, ICE, and DHS's Office of the General Counsel Headquarters. The selected attorney will be required to assess litigation risk and provide litigation support to the Department of Justice.

As a General Attorney, you will perform the following duties at the full performance level:

Represent the United States Government in removal proceedings before immigration judges, frequently involving applicants for asylum or for other forms of relief under immigration laws;
Provide expert legal counsel in the interpretation of highly complex immigration and customs laws including comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of statutory, regulatory and case authorities;
Prepare cases for litigation by conducting legal research; prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, stipulations, affidavits, and other legal documents;
Prepare witnesses for litigation; conduct direct examination and cross examination; present oral arguments advancing ICE's legal position; negotiate the disposition of cases with opposing counsel; and advise the Chief Counsel and/or Deputy Chief Counsel on cases potentially warranting deferred action or other exercise of prosecutorial discretion;
Construct litigation reports for United States Attorney's Offices on civil matters pending in the federal courts involving ICE, and serve as liaison between Department of Justice's Office of Immigration Litigation and the local Enforcement and Removal Field Office on immigration matters pending in the Circuit Courts of Appeals;
Provide legal advice and support to the other ICE components and litigation support to United States Attorney's Offices in immigration and/or customs matters. The position also involves appellate advocacy before the Board of Immigration Appeals, including the preparation of briefs and other pleadings.

OPLA will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations when appropriate. If reasonable accommodation is required for any part of the application process, please contact the OPLA representative listed on this announcement.

You have the opportunity to identify one location preference. Note that multiple duty locations fall within the area of responsibility (AOR) of each office. Your location preferences are NOT guaranteed. The duty locations offered will be based on the needs of the agency. If you decline the duty locations offered during the official job offer, you will be removed from further consideration.

Organizational Location: This announcement will be used to fill multiple vacancies at the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) Field Locations.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

You must successfully pass a background investigation and drug screen for federal employment.
If you are a male born after 12/31/59, you must certify registration with the Selective Service.
You must have relevant experience (see How You Will Be Evaluated and Qualifications tabs).
You must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
You may be required to serve a two-year trial period, if the requirement has not been met.
You must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Applicants must be retired on or before the opening date of this announcement.

Applicants should possess an ability to efficiently produce quality legal analyses of complex and novel issues, exercise sound legal judgment, be detail oriented, prioritize competing assignments, and work effectively independently, as part of a team, and across work units. Applicants should have a strong interest in supporting and providing stellar client services to diverse program offices including law enforcement officers, policymakers, attorneys, and agency senior leadership, and must be able to tailor communications to a particular audience. Applicants should be able to demonstrate an ability to take initiative and work in a reliable, decisive, and professional manner. Applicants should possess the following characteristics and competencies: integrity, sound professional judgment, organizational skills, decisiveness, initiative, stellar client services, the ability to function independently and cooperatively, and superior written and oral advocacy skills.

Bar Membership: You must 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.

Dual Compensation Off-Set Waiver for General Attorneys Approved for Rehires:
This announcement is being used to recruit CSRS and FERS annuitants on a limited basis with a waiver of salary offset (if a dual compensation waiver is requested) under certain specified circumstances not to exceed 07/31/2028 excluding annuitants with early voluntary and buyout retirements.

Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are eligible for:

Full annuity and full Federal salary.
Annual and sick leave (not applicable for an intermittent work schedule)
Full-time work schedules.
Receive overtime (on a full schedule). Overtime hours are counted towards maximum hour limitations.
New hires under this authority will be offered a non-status, not-to-exceed term appointment in the excepted service which may be extended based on the needs of the agency.

Annuitants who are reemployed with a salary offset (dual compensation) waiver are NOT eligible for:

Additional retirement coverage (other than Social Security coverage).
TSP Contributions.

Reemployed annuitants may only receive one appointment per job series.

Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 C.F.R. § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs.

Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on 12/31/2025. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Education

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LLM degree. Please see Required Documents for more information.

A student loan repayment incentive may be available; if such an incentive is available and is authorized, a service agreement will be required.

Additional information

This is a not-to-exceed term position and may be extended based on the needs of the agency.

The salary range listed is the General Schedule (GS) base rate. Click here to access the GS locality pay tables.

Recruitment incentives will require a service agreement.

E-Verify: 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 Status: This is a non-bargaining position.

Promotion Potential: This position has promotion potential to the GS-14. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Veterans' Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the Excepted Service; however, OPLA considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring.

Financial Disclosure: If you are hired, you may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days after appointment.

Suitability: If you receive a conditional offer of employment, you must complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo a background investigation and successfully obtain and maintain a security clearance at the secretlevel as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and tax obligations, and a review of certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Drug Test: Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan, ICE is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. All applicants tentatively selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing and a final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative result.

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.

All information and documents submitted as set forth in the Required Documents section will be reviewed to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

Qualified candidates will be rated by comparing each candidate's qualifications to the skills and experience pertinent to the position to be filled. Experience, education, training, awards, and performance will be considered. An applicant need not have specific knowledge and experience regarding each item listed in the Qualifications section in order to qualify for the position.

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.

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 current 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.

SF-50 Retirement: You must submit a copy of your retirement SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your retirement status. Only retired civilian federal employees who worked for a United States federal government agency in a non-military capacity qualify.

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, cover letter, or a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12787688 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 12/31/2025 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.

Agency contact information

MSD OPLA Staffing and Benefits

Email

Attorney.opla@ice.dhs.gov

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.

Overview

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

08/27/2025 to 12/31/2025

Salary

$90,025 to - $138,296 per year

This salary range reflects the GS base rate only. Link to the locality pay tables is located in the Summary.

Pay scale & grade

GS 13 - 14

Locations

Many vacancies in the following locations:

Birmingham, AL

Eloy, AZ

Florence, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Show morefewer locations (90)

Tucson, AZ

Adelanto, CA

Concord, CA

El Centro, CA

Los Angeles, CA

Otay, CA

Sacramento, CA

San Diego, CA

San Francisco, CA

Santa Ana, CA

Van Nuys, CA

Centennial, CO

Denver, CO

Hartford, CT

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Myers, FL

Jacksonville, FL

Miami, FL

Orlando, FL

Pompano Beach, FL

Tampa, FL

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA

Lumpkin, GA

Honolulu, HI

Des Moines, IA

Boise, ID

Chicago, IL

Indianapolis, IN

Louisville, KY

Baton Rouge, LA

Jena, LA

New Orleans, LA

Oakdale, LA

Boston, MA

Chelmsford, MA

Baltimore, MD

Hyattsville, MD

Detroit, MI

Grand Rapids, MI

Minneapolis, MN

Saint Paul, MN

Kansas City, MO

Saint Louis, MO

Charlotte, NC

Raleigh, NC

Omaha, NE

Elizabeth, NJ

Newark, NJ

Chaparral, NM

Las Vegas, NV

Batavia, NY

Brooklyn, NY

Buffalo, NY

Nassau County, NY

New York, NY

Newburgh, NY

Suffolk County, NY

Brooklyn Heights, OH

Cleveland, OH

Columbus, OH

Oklahoma City, OK

Portland, OR

Philadelphia, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

York, PA

San Juan, PR

Charleston, SC

Columbia, SC

Memphis, TN

Nashville, TN

Conroe, TX

Dallas, TX

Dilley, TX

El Paso, TX

Harlingen, TX

Houston, TX

Irving, TX

Laredo, TX

Los Fresnos, TX

Pearsall, TX

San Antonio, TX

Salt Lake City, UT

Annandale, VA

Richmond, VA

Sterling, VA

Seattle, WA

Spokane, WA

Tacoma, WA

Milwaukee, WI

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

No

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Term

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

14

Job family (Series)

0905 Attorney

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Secret

Drug test

Yes

Position sensitivity and risk

Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process

National security

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

RHA-12787688-JP

Control number

844391100

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ABOUT_COMPANY

General Attorney (Retired U.S. Federal Civil Service)

General Attorney (Retired U.S. Federal Civil Service)