Program Director, Detention Program

The Agency:

Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice), an award-winning not-for-profit legal services organization founded in 1996 to protect and promote the basic human rights of immigrants, has a multicultural and a multilingual staff. AI Justice has represented clients from around the world and is recognized as a powerful advocate and national leader for immigrants' rights. AI Justice works closely with traditional civil rights groups as well as grassroots organizations and local, state, and national government officials to affect positive change in immigration policies.

Supervisor: The Detention Program Director reports to the Deputy Director.

The Detention Program:

The Detention Program provides representation, case assistance, and intakes to individuals detained in ICE custody in Florida. Our Program advocates for the just and humane treatment of all and believes that no human is illegal or should be separated from their family and support systems. AIJ recognizes the U.S. immigration system disproportionately targets and criminalizes Black and brown immigrants who are routinely and systematically funneled from the criminal justice system to deportation. Our Program advocates for all immigrants in custody and does not discriminate on any basis.

Job Summary:

AIJ seeks a passionate attorney to lead as Director of the Detention Program. Program Director supervises 3 staff attorneys, two paralegals, and Detention Hotline operations, engages in State and national advocacy and coalition work in the detention advocacy/accountability spaces on behalf of the agency. Position also includes monitoring and visiting facilities, limited Know Your Rights presentations to individuals in detention; local and national advocacy; reporting and complaint work regarding conditions of confinement to federal oversight agencies. The Director also oversees efforts to expand pro bono engagement of detained immigrants, and advocate for the fair and humane treatment of all people in ICE custody. 

Responsibilities and Core Duties/Daily Activities:

The Detention Program Director shall:

• Mentor, support, and train Detention Program staff on complex immigration work in the detained removal defense context.
• Assist attorneys in daily case management tasks for existing and prospective clients, including reviewing consultation, answering questions regularly, and being available to strategize and soundboard.
• Supervise and manage caseloads and work of attorneys through regular, recurring meetings.
• Meet weekly with Program to review cases and debrief.
• Strategize with staff around relief eligibility, options for release from detention, and advocacy at large for clients and prospective clients while respecting the individual agency of clients, and recognizing the criminalization of immigrants, and the role of capitalism in the U.S. immigration detention system.
• Review draft submissions and provide constructive and useful feedback to staff.
• Monitor quality control and consistency across the Detention Hotline; provide guidance to paralegals with prospective clients; assist with triage of Hotline issues.
• Supervise and manage attorney-paralegal dynamics, paralegal workflow, and paralegal to attorney communication flow.
• Support on strategizing with issues relating to gathering documentation, supporting documents, evidence, criminal history documents, and other evidence for USCIS and Immigration Court submissions.
• Periodic review of Legal Server and Programmatic compliance with Protocols both agency and Program-wide.

Other Activities and Responsibilities: 

• Participating in regularly scheduled meetings, calls, and in-person meetings with stakeholders, Detention Watch Network and other organizations, advocacy groups, and coalitions
• Recommend training opportunities for staff to deepen and broaden their legal skills, client skills, and knowledge of immigration systems and immigration law. 
• Attend supervisor trainings and improve supervisory skills and leadership development.
• Collaborate with other Program Directors and Deputy Director to develop skills of attorney practitioners ranging from technical trainings to substantive law review.
• Collaborate with the Litigation & Advocacy Program to challenge conditions of confinement and other issues relating to incarceration, detention, and the criminalization of immigrants.
• Establish and fortify relationships with community partners, coalitions, private bar, criminal defense bar, government agencies (including oversight agencies); legislative bodies, and community organizations.
• Work closely with the Deputy Director, Grant Coordinator, and development staff to prepare grant applications; ensure compliance with grant requirements and county, state and federal contracts; and prepare narrative and other reports as required by funding agencies.
• Supervise, delegate, and review the work of law students, interns, and volunteers so that their work is helpful to AI Justice and results in a beneficial learning experience for them.
• Travel to detention centers to conduct intakes, interview clients, gather documentation to report conditions of confinement, draft applications and statements, tour facilities, and
• observe/attend hearings.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Essential Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• The ideal candidate for this position will be professional, flexible, friendly, empathetic, responsible, and familiar with supervisory roles and power dynamics.
• Enthusiastic about and committed to working alongside people from diverse cultural, educational, professional, and socioeconomic backgrounds. A demonstrated belief in diversity, inclusion, and equity for all individuals.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Flexible to the varying needs of staff as to supervision and what staff may need to succeed. Flexible to the pace of detention work and the nature of detained removal defense.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365 suite and Legal Server database systems preferred, but not required.
• Appreciation for the prison to deportation pipeline; the interaction between the carceral State and communities of color; and a desire to see the eventual end of immigration detention and its dehumanizing impact on immigrants.

Other Requirements:

• Minimum five years of experience representing immigrants in the removal context, strongly preferred in the detained removal context. Removal defense experience must include extensive experience with individual merits hearings. Preference for experience with agency and federal appeals, and district court.
• Directly impacted people and those with personal experience in the U.S. immigration system are highly encouraged to apply.
• Extensive experience supervising attorneys and support staff. 
• Licensed to practice law in any state – Florida Bar preferred but not required.
• Fluent in Spanish or Haitian Creole required.
• Experience representing clients at the intersection of criminal and immigration law.
• Strong writing, research and analytical skills; strong communication and group leadership skills. 
• Excellent presentation skills for community outreach, education, and training.
• Experience working managing and mentoring volunteers and pro bono attorneys.
• Background check is mandatory for all applicants. The background check includes FBI, statewide repository, and sex offender registry review.
• Valid Driver's license and reliable transportation needed.
• Experience in public interest law, particularly immigration law, preferred.

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary commensurate with experience. Salary range is $83,600 - $129,600 per year.

plus supervisory bonus.

AI Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package, including excellent health, vision, dental, and life insurance coverage; 15 paid days of vacation leave; 13 paid holidays; 10 paid health days; 1 personal day. AIJ also offers annual Health Savings Account benefits. After one year of employment, staff are entitled to paid parental leave and up to 3% matching employer contribution to 403(b) retirement plan. Vacation and health leave increases after two- and five year anniversaries. Paid sabbatical available at five years. 

How To Apply:

AI Justice is an EOE/AA employer, and we strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and other historically underrepresented groups. We value strength in diversity and inclusion within our office and are actively working towards providing an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment free from discrimination for all.

Submit cover letter, resume, and 3 references to careers@aijustice.org. Please

write DETENTION PROGRAM DIRECTOR in the subject line.

Interviews: Top candidates will be invited to interview.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Schedule: Monday to Friday

Location:

Hybrid position, but travel required to Miami Dade and Broward Counties. Some travel outside of Florida may be required for conferences, advocacy, and other site visits.