Migration Counselor - Catholic Charities Community Services

Description

Summary

The Unaccompanied Minors Program (UMP) protects the rights of young immigrants to make informed decisions about their lives. Annually, we defend and counsel thousands of young people facing family separation, government detention, and deportation. UMP serves unaccompanied non-citizen youth who are currently detained by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in juvenile facilities in the Lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York City, as well as youth who have left these facilities and reside in New York City. We are committed to ensuring that non-citizen youth have access to the information and support they need to fully exercise their rights and to meaningfully participate in their own removal defense. Outside the courtroom, UMP provides educational and integration opportunities for non-citizen youth, and we connect young people with supportive social services in the communities where they live. The Migration Counselor provides legal services to children who are, or have been, living under the 
custody of ORR. The position includes extensive contact with youth who have suffered abuse, abandonment, neglect, or other trauma. Travel to the ORR-run facilities is required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Provide child-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent legal services to unaccompanied minors living under the care and custody of ORR at local ORR-run facilities. This includes but is not limited to conducting Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations and individual legal screenings; providing information and assistance related to the enforcement of rights to safety, bodily integrity, and family unity while in government custody; tracking emerging trends at the various ORR-run facilities; submitting referrals to the Office on Trafficking in Persons; helping minors prepare for court hearings; and working on minor’s removal defense matters. 
   2. Ensure timely provision of legal services to detained minors. This involves reviewing daily census reports prepared by the ORR-run shelters, tracking that information in relevant spreadsheets, and planning and executing visits to the various ORR-run shelters in collaboration with stakeholders. 
   3. Participate in regular team meetings to ensure that children’s matters are properly staffed. Identify matters that require immediate attention and raise them to appropriate staff members. Provide necessary information to colleagues to triage issues timely and to meet clients’ expressed wishes.
   4. Under the supervision of an attorney or DOJ accredited representative, provide direct legal services to unaccompanied non-citizen children in removal proceedings who qualify for immigration relief in matters including, but not limited to asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, U- and T-visa 
   applications, adjustment of status, etc. Develop a legal strategy based on information gathered through the course of representation, conduct research on various legal issues and country conditions, translate documents, draft substantive legal arguments, draft affidavits, and help prepare petitions for relief.
   5. Gather documents and obtain status updates for ORR-involved youth, review ORR release documents, monitor the scheduling of immigration court hearings, conduct follow-up meetings, confirm legal referrals, and request documents from stakeholders. Manage and update spreadsheets or databases.
   6. Use the client management database, LawLogix, and SharePoint to timely and accurately maintain and update records. This may include recording notes from any meetings with youth, inputting information of all correspondence received for or from stakeholders (staff from EOIR, DHS, ORR, etc.), 
   documenting all communications regarding a child’s matter, tracking deadlines and event reminders, and uploading other documents or information as needed.
   7. Communicate professionally and accurately with stakeholders (staff from EOIR, DHS, ORR, etc.) in calls, meetings, or in writing. Provide timely responses to phone calls, emails, instant messages, and other correspondence. 
   8. Compile monthly statistics and reports. Assist with monthly reporting and record-keeping.
   9. Maintain client information confidential. 
   10. Adhere to Agency and UMP protocols.
   11. Other duties as assigned.

This is a non-exempt, hourly position. The hourly pay range is $30.22 to $32.97 based on a 35-hour work week ($55,000.00 to 60,000.00 per year).

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are generally 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily Monday through Friday. Additional evening and weekend hours may be required. 
Working conditions and physical demands required:
The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
1. Travel at least 50% of the time using public transportation and traversing city streets. Occasionally ascend/descend stairs and be exposed to outside weather conditions.
2. Remain stationary at a workstation and/or use a computer at least 70% of the time.
3. Ability to operate standard office equipment such as but not limited to a computer, copy machine, fax, scanner, telephone, postage machine, and printer.
4. Ability to transport, lift, and file documents/supplies in cabinets.
5. Ability to transport, lift, and carry a laptop to work and to offsite work locations.

Qualifications

Education and/or experience:
1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional training related to the position required.
2. Previous experience working with youth or with incarcerated/detained people is a plus. 
3. Previous experience in immigration law and procedures is a plus.
Skills, Licenses, and/or competencies required:
1. Bilingual in Spanish and English. Fluency in other languages is a plus. 
2. Actively work toward obtaining and maintaining accreditation through the Department of Justice.
3. Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, interpersonal, and time management skills.
4. Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment, and ability to work in a highly collaborative team in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment. 
5. Comfort using technology and inputting data, including experience with Microsoft Office.
6. Ability to problem-solve and raise issues to supervisors with a solutions-based focus.
7. Commitment to public interest work and/or children’s issues, and ability to work with young people.
8. Willingness and flexibility to shuffle work assignments to meet program requirements.
9. Strong attention to detail and ability to remain poised under pressure.