Senior Attorney

Job Title: Deportation Defense Team Senior Attorney

Reports to

Managing Attorney, Deportation Defense Team

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Location

Albuquerque preferred, Las Cruces and Santa Fe will be considered

About the Organization

The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) works to advance justice, dignity, and equity for immigrants in New Mexico through high-quality legal services, advocacy, and community partnerships. NMILC envisions a state where immigrants can live and thrive free from fear, with access to their rights and opportunities to shape their futures.

Position Overview

NMILC’s Deportation Defense Team offers free immigration legal services to asylum seekers in removal proceedings and to individuals detained at the immigration detention centers in New Mexico. The Program provides direct representation, rapid response for community arrests, individual intakes, pro bono referrals, and actively engages in advocacy to advance justice for asylum seekers, detained individuals, and end immigration detention.

Key Responsibilities

• R epresent individuals in non-detained removal proceedings
• with EOIR and affirmative filings with USCIS, including asylum applications and work permit applications;
• Develop pro se materials and systems to support non-detained New Mexicans in rem oval proceedings ;

Conduct legal consultations for individuals in ICE custody at the Torrance County Detention Facility and the Cibola County Correctional Center
regarding
 their immigration options;

Represent detained non-citizens in removal proceedings and bond hearings in front of EOIR, appeals with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and habeas corpus proceedings in the Western District of Texas and the District of New Mexico;

Supe rvise and/ or mentor

so me NMILC

attorneys

taki ng on non -detaine d removal case s , particularl y for repre sentatio n on the merits;

Supervise legal assistants and volunteers , both at detention center visits and in individual case matters ;

Strengthen referral networks by coordinating case referrals with other organizations (e.g., Immigrant Justice Corps, ACLU-NM)
;
 and

Participate in rapid-response and community legal clinics during times of increased enforcement activity, offering Know Your Rights (KYR) information and orientation for families of detained individuals.

Qualifications

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school

Active membership in

any state bar.

Minimum of

• four ye ars of immigration law experience, with high volume practice
• ideally
• including
• crime victim visas, asylum, SIJS, removal defense, and appeals
• One year of supervisory experience
• preferred .
• Bilingual fluency (English/Spanish), both written and verbal
• A demonstrated commitment to public interest work, immigrant rights, social justice issues, and desire to
• assist
• crime victims.
• Commitment to NMILC’s internal organizational values
• The ability to provide trauma-informed and
• culturally-competent
• legal
• assistance
• to crime victims/survivors

Strong organizational skills

Strong communication

• skills, both oral and written
• Strong skills in legal research, analysis, and writing
• Ability to interact professionally and negotiate effectively with opposing counsel
• The ability to work collaboratively with different program staff and partner organizations to further develop community relationships and
• facilitate
• holistic and wraparound services

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time exempt position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographic area and is commensurate with experience. Starting annual salary for the Senior Attorney position is $90,480.  NMILC currently offers a generous benefits package, including:

100% of Individual Employee Health, Dental and Vision Premium paid by NMILC for the Base Plan and 50% for dependents. Buy-up health plan also available.

Access to Traditional and Roth 401(K) options and discretionary employer match up to 10% of base salary upon meeting eligibility requirements (determined each fiscal year based on funding projections).

Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) for both medical and dependent care.

Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

Employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.

Benefits may be subject to change at any time based on the organization’s budget.

NMILC also recognizes the value of creating an environment of positive work/life balance, acknowledging that investing in staff’s ability to take care of themselves and their families enables them to do their best work. Our paid holiday schedule is exceptional and contributes to each of us enjoying a good work/life balance. The plan currently includes:

Company-paid federal holidays in addition to 2 weeks of winter break, 1 week for spring break, and 1 week for summer break, and other days as established in coordination with the local public-school schedule.

Three week paid vacation annually;

1 earned sick leave hour for every 30 hours worked;