Description:
About the Border Butterflies ProjectBorder Butterflies is a project anchored by the Black LGBTQIA Migrant Project, Transgender Law Center, Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, and other Tijuana based organizations. The project aims to support LGBTQ asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border with legal, humanitarian, post-detention, and organizing support. The staff attorney position, based in the Tijuana/San Diego region, will be hosted by Transgender Law Center. The staff attorney will provide direct legal support to LGBTQ asylum seekers in living Tijuana and the United States.
About Transgender Law Center
A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization employs various community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender-nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation. (www.transgenderlawcenter.org)
Position Summary:
This position is within A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization's litigation team with a focus on the Border Butterflies Project.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide direct immigration services to LGBTQ asylum seekers in the United States including;
- conflict-of-interest checks
- over-the-phone and in-person intakes and consultations- including at community centers and shelters
- preparing applications including but not limited to, asylum, change of venue, parole, bond, u visas, t visas, and vawa
- conducting research
- Represent clients at master calendar hearings and ICE check-ins
- Provide limited direct representation in immigration court for asylum merits hearings
- Improve the quality of care that LGBTQ asylum seekers receive:
- Working with mental health providers, healthcare providers, and shelter services providers to improve the quality of care that asylum seekers receive
- Supporting the services being provided to be more holistic, coordinated, client-centered, strength-based, and trauma-informed.
Coalition Presence:
Develop, sustain, and strengthen new and existing coalitions and collaborations, working with all the following;immigrant legal service and advocacy organizationssocial service and victim support agenciesgovernment agencies
Community Education:
- Conduct immigration clinics, community meetings and Know-your-“rights” information sessions
- Develop written resources including know-your-rights material and sample legal documents;
- Develop, sustain, and strengthen educational outreach to immigrant communities
- Engage in education efforts for community members and attorneys, including speaking at conferences, trainings, and webinars;
Administration & A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization's internal ecosystem:
- Daily attention to administrative and operational responsibilities to ensure reporting compliance, including detailed and comprehensive data collection
- Assist with the smooth transfer of cases to pro bono attorneys and other legal representatives;
- Attend relevant meetings, including;Border Butterfly meetings;All-staff meetings (1-2 hours per month)
- Other duties as assigned in support of the BBP legal team and the organization at large
While A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization prides itself on prioritizing life-work balance for its staff, this position may require occasional long hours/weekends when on deadline.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- A Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
- Experience practicing immigration law including but not limited to in law school clinics, internships and volunteer work.
- Fluency in Spanish and English.
- Experience with legal or policy advocacy relating to immigration.
- Familiarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming communities.
- Experience working with communities of color and transgender communities.
- Deep understanding of intersecting oppressions including anti-Blackness, white supremacy, transphobia, ableism, misogyny, colonialism, and capitalism.
- Demonstrated capacity to provide a welcoming presence to clients experiencing trauma, and a demonstrated client-centered, trauma-informed perspective and cultural responsivity to the diverse populations we serve.
- Experience working with people from a variety of different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, religious, sexual, gender, and generational backgrounds
- Strong writing, editing, and legal research skills and experience with public speaking.
- Skill at working collaboratively both within the organization and with other groups.
- Strong personal organization and time management skills.
- Creativity and good judgment
- Enthusiasm for the work of the organization and its potential.
- Demonstrated ability to triage and manage multiple tasks under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
- Willingness to travel and to work outside of regular office hours when
Administration & A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization's internal ecosystem:
- Daily attention to administrative and operational responsibilities to ensure reporting compliance, including detailed and comprehensive data collection
- Assist with the smooth transfer of cases to pro bono attorneys and other legal representatives;
- Attend relevant meetings, including;Border Butterfly meetings;All-staff meetings (1-2 hours per month)
- Other duties as assigned in support of the BBP legal team and the organization at large
Preferred Qualifications:
- Admission to the bar of at least one state
- Experience working with pro-bono attorneys.
- Experience working with immigrants at the Southern Border or in immigration detention
