The incumbent of this position is one of two senior executive leaders who report to the Deputy Principal Legal Advisor for Legal Operations, advocate on behalf of ICE clients on immigration- and customs-related legal operations, and provide mission-critical legal services, counsel, and training to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiatives and programs vital to protecting U.S.
national security, public safety, and the integrity of the immigration system.
The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) protects the homeland by diligently litigating cases while adhering to the highest standards of professional conduct, providing timely and accurate legal advice, and optimizing resources to advance the missions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE. OPLA is part of the Office of the General Counsel within DHS.
The General Counsel, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, serves as DHS's chief legal officer and principal legal advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security. As such, the General Counsel is responsible for all of DHS's legal determinations and for overseeing all of its attorneys.
OPLA serves as the principal legal representative for DHS/ICE in various forums, including representing DHS before the Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) under 6 U.S.C. § 252(c). OPLA provides legal advice to ICE officers and agents in Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and offers litigation support to the U.S.
Attorney's Offices and the DOJ Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) on federal court matters related to ICE operations. OPLA handles complex, high-profile immigration and customs enforcement issues that require creative legal solutions to balance national security and individual liberties.
Additionally, OPLA represents DHS in Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Federal Labor Relations Authority hearings; provides ethics counsel; and manages commercial and administrative law matters. Headquartered in Washington, DC, OPLA has nine regions nationwide, each led by a Regional Counsel, and maintains 143 office locations.
The incumbent of this position oversees the following OPLA Regional Counsel offices: Great Lakes-Rockies, Lone Star-Great Plains, Southwest Border, and Pacific-Northwest. The incumbent must be stationed at an OPLA office within one of those regions.
Specific duties and responsibilities include: Overseeing the provision of legal advice and assistance on matters concerning the enforcement of this nation's immigration and customs laws; overseeing the prosecution/litigation of cases before EOIR's Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals in removal proceedings against aliens alleged to be in the United States in violation of the law; and overseeing the prosecution of criminal cases and the defense of civil cases before the U.S.
District Courts and the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals by ICE attorneys. Providing guidance and support in connection with matters that may include highly controversial or sensitive issues, or previously undecided questions where adverse decisions would negatively affect ICE operations; overseeing the provision of crucial litigation support and advice to the DOJ U.S. Attorneys' Offices and OIL in the prosecution and defense of cases before the U.S. District Courts, the U.S.
Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States on matters related to the operations of DHS and ICE; and advising and representing ICE in special interest and other sensitive cases, including terrorism, human rights violator, and national security matters.
Assisting the Principal Legal Advisor (PLA), Executive Deputy Principal Legal Advisor (EDPLA), and Deputy Principal Legal Advisor (DPLA) for Legal Operations for Legal Operations in developing and planning legal operations and furnishing continuity of administration to the legal functions of ICE.
This includes implementing the various strategic plans of DHS, ICE, and OPLA; directing legal activities in connection with highly significant problems; directing the provision of a full range of legal advice and services; participating in the development of ICE policies, directives, and procedures; and ensuring they are consistent with the intent of the law and are administratively sound, efficient, and economical in operation.
Responding to congressional inquiries; reviewing and analyzing proposed legislation and case law; preparing, reviewing, and approving official documents and letters for signature by the Director, Deputy Director, and other senior management officials; and attending conferences with and, as appropriate, rendering legal opinions to the Director, Deputy Director, PLA, and other senior managers of ICE; senior officials of the Department and other government departments; and outside private-sector organizations.
Serving under the general direction of the PLA, EDPLA, and DPLA for Legal Operations; performing the duties with broad authority, which carries with it wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment. Other than on matters of unusual significance, decisions and judgments are not reviewed. Exercising sound judgment in determining whether particular matters should be brought to the attention of the PLA, EDPLA, or other senior officials.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited toward qualifications. Applicants' resumes and supporting documentation should reflect only education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency, which is a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs, with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S.
Department of Education webpage.
Justin.Sams-Terrazas@ice.dhs.gov
This position is with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
The posted pay range is $151661 – $228000/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
This position requires a Top Secret security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-25.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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