General Attorney (CriminalCustoms)

OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employing over 3000 attorneys nationwide to provide a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. OPLAs Enforcement General Law and Litigation (EG&L) divisions through close client engagement advance ICEs homeland security and public safety mission by providing expert legal advice and guidance to ICE personnel enforcing our nations immigration customs and criminal laws and policies. Counsel in EG&L also defend the operational authorities and decisions of ICE officers and agents in federal courts and support the advocacy of ICE attorneys before immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals with special emphasis on cases involving criminal aliens human rights violators and aliens who threaten our national security. EG&L divisions also advise and provide legal and prudential counsel to an array of operational and policy clients within ICE on contracts fiscal and information law issues as well as ethics and regulatory matters.

Counsel with HSILD primarily advise Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel at ICE Headquarters by representing agency interests in support of HSIs dynamic mission and by providing guidance on a variety of law enforcement authorities. HSILD Counsel work closely with the DHS Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Headquarters other DHS component legal offices and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entities such as U.S. Attorneys Offices throughout the nation. HSILD Counselprovide cutting edge customs law criminal law and criminal immigration law advice to DHS ICE and OPLA leadership. This includes advising on financial crimes asset forfeiture the repatriation of cultural property confidential informants and undercover operations customs fraud intellectual property rights cybercrime child exploitation export enforcement intelligence identity and benefit fraud contraband smuggling gangs search and seizure issues and worksite enforcement matters. HSILD interprets and defends HSIs unique authorities; reviews national policies novel issues and matters of national importance; drafts proposed legislation; liaises with other law enforcement agencies; and provides advanced training to the dedicated men and women of HSI on the front lines of criminal and immigration enforcement. HSILD provides direct support to ICE law enforcement personnel and ensures consistent nationwide legal and operational advice on these matters through coordination with OPLA colleagues nationally.

The selected attorney(s) will be given significant responsibilities immediately and will be expected to research and craft persuasive legally supportable positions to address the needs of agency operational components. Timely oral and written guidance will be routinely provided by the selected attorneys to ICE officers and agents division management and senior leadership within OPLA ICE and the DHS OGC HQ

• 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.

Unless otherwise noted you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time on 08/21/2026. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.

In light of the nature of HSILDs work attorney assignments are fast-paced high-profile and need to be addressed in real-time. The attorneys selected in response to this announcement will be given significant responsibilities on an immediate basis. Selectees must possess the following knowledge skills and abilities characteristics and competencies: adept at prioritizing multiple assignments exercising sound legal and practical judgment efficiently producing quality legal analyses of complex and novel legal issues and working effectively in a fast-paced environment both individually and as part of a team. Applicants should also demonstrate the ability to take initiative and work in a reliable decisive and professional manner.

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.

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.