The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLU) seeks a dynamic team member with experience in immigration law to fill a one-year position coordinating the intake procedure for the class action settlement in Lopez-Venegas v. Johnson, which will allow certain Mexican nationals to return to the United States. Under the supervision of legal staff, the intake coordinator will monitor telephonic, email, and written intakes, respond to inquiries regarding class membership under the settlement, and communicate directly with affected individuals to complete initial screening for class membership eligibility.
In 2014, the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, along with co-counsel, settled a class action lawsuit with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) regarding their administration of “Voluntary Return” under Immigration and Nationality Act § 240B(a), in lieu of removal proceedings. The settlement allows for class members who accepted Voluntary Return to Mexico to return to the United States in the same legal position they occupied immediately prior to accepting Voluntary Return.
Position Overview and Functions:
Under the supervision of the legal director and staff attorneys, the intake coordinator will administer and manage the intake process for inquiries related to class membership under the Lopez-Venegas Settlement. The intake coordinator will respond directly to applicants seeking information about class membership and will diligently organize and maintain logs and spreadsheets to track communication and eligibility assessments. The intake coordinator will work with and report daily to the class implementation attorney and/or senior staff attorney, and will assist as directed with completion of class membership applications, including providing translations of documents. The intake coordinator will work as part of the Advancing Immigrants’ Rights Team, will coordinate with organizational partners in the region working on Settlement related issues, and will collaborate across the ACLU’s policy, communications, and legal teams in San Diego and the rest of California.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities Include:
- Develop and implement intake protocols to screen potential applicants, track their cases, and log communications.
- Communicate via telephone, and correspond via letter and email with potential class applicants to gather information regarding eligibility, and to communicate eligibility determinations.
- Assess and communicate trends in intake process and adjust protocols to accommodate busy work flow.
- When directed by a supervising attorney, work with potential class members to gather documentation and information to assist in completing class membership application.
- Translate documents and writings between Spanish and English.
- Work in collaboration with the class implementation attorney to ensure that the intake process efficiently, promptly, and correctly identifies potential class members.
- Work with approved class members to coordinate class members’ return to the United States.
- Work with policy, communication, and legal teams to provide community education and outreach in the United States and Mexico regarding the Settlement.
- Be accountable to work plans, supervisor check-ins, giving and receiving feedback and debriefs.
Qualifications:
- Experience in immigration law, including understanding of processing removal and deportation, forms of relief from removal, and immigration agency structures.
- Experience working with minority communities.
- Organized and detail-oriented, with strong communication skills.
- Fluent in English and Spanish, both written and spoken.
- Patience and a compassionate demeanor, and comfort with delivering unwelcome news.
- Understanding of civil rights and civil liberties issues, particularly in the area of immigrants’ rights, and enthusiasm for addressing these issues through legal and other advocacy.
- Able to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work under deadline and willingness to work variable work schedule if necessary to meet deadlines.
- Ability to work and build credibility in immigrant, refugee and low-income communities.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and written skills.
Salary & Benefits: Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits.
One-year position.
Application Procedure: By January 30, 2015, interested individuals must send a cover letter, resume, and list of references, preferably by e-mail to jobs@aclusandiego.org or by mail to:
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
ATTN: Bardis Vakili, Senior Staff Attorney
PO Box 87131
San Diego, CA 92138-7131
The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and veterans.
