Detainee Rights Project Lead

Introduction:

The Detainee Rights Project Coordinator is responsible for coordinating response to ICE detention. This includes building relationships between ILCM’s Community Defense team, partners, and detention facilities, coordinating detention center visits, improving processes, and keeping materials current. Responsibilities include working with detention centers to arrange presentations, consultations, and phone access; working with partner organizations to staff detention center visits; and support the Community Defense Team. Regular travel to MN detention centers is required for this role.

What’s in it for you?

• The opportunity to make an impact in the community by enhancing opportunities for immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.
• We believe in work-life harmony. This role offers the flexibility to blend remote work with in-office collaboration.

Why ILCM?

• You will be championing social justice & creating meaningful impact.
• You will work in a place that values diversity, equity, and belonging. We encourage new ideas, value multiple perspectives, and foster a supportive environment where each role matters.
• We offer competitive and transparent compensation. We aim to ensure that pay, benefits, and career progression reflect your contributions, impact, and market value.
• You will work with a committed organization dedicated to serving and empowering clients. ILCM’s values are grounded in respect for and partnership with our immigrant and refugee clients.

Primary Responsibilities 90%

45% Facilitating Detainee Legal Access

• Serve as lead point-of-contact for detention centers and partners on this project.
• Coordinate with detention centers that house ICE inmates, including Kandiyohi County, Freeborn County, Sherburne County, Crow Wing County, and Appleton, MN to plan out in-person detention center visit schedule for presentations and consultations.
• Advocate for expanded legal services within the detention centers through relationship building with leadership and staff on site and partnering with colleagues on strategy.
• Be familiar with ICE’s National Detention Standards to ensure visits are in compliance with 2025 detention standards, maintain knowledge of how those standards are implemented, and stay up to date on any changes to the detention standards.
• Travel to detention centers to present on Know Your Rights and other topics.
• Appropriate follow-up as needed, including directing referrals to correct staff or external agencies.
• Coordinate logistics of detention center visits, this could include ensuring lodging is secured for the detention visit and ensuring that staff and volunteers have necessary credentials to enter the detention center.

20% Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead and coordinate MN Detention Project meetings and be ILCM point person for collaboration.
• Supervise support staff on the project including participating in the hiring process, assigning tasks, delegating, and regular check-ins.
• Lead on a comprehensive detention visit guide in collaboration with other ILCM staff.
• Introduce new staff, volunteers, and partners to the project through sharing materials and training.
• Collaborate with other ILCM staff to improve processes to ensure access to legal services through detention centers, detention line, and intake.
• Work with staff and partners to create detention preparedness presentations.
• Ensure all detention program materials are current and up to date.

15% Data tracking and analysis

• Support tracking of detention center outreach in Legal Server.
• Support tracking of detainee cases in Legal Server, as needed.
• Create tracking mechanisms for data not captured by Legal Server.
• Coordinate data tracking and data sharing with partner organizations.
• Regularly synthesize and analyze data for reporting and advocacy.

Secondary Responsibilities 10%

• Complete time records for financial management, grant reporting, and compliance purposes.
• Participate in legal team meetings and monthly all-staff meetings.
• Engage in training and professional development opportunities as assigned or required.
• Assist with proposal development and grant reporting as needed.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications | Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Experience coordinating large projects with multiple partners.
• Experience working with government entities, preferred.
• Ability to travel to detention facilities, to meet with partner agencies, and to conduct outreach activities.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, required.
• Proficient in all Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint.
• Ability to learn case management systems and other programs, such as Legal Server.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Able to work well cross-departmentally, handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with diverse refugee and immigrant communities, community agencies, and resources.
• Passion for serving the low-income immigrant and refugee community and experience working with persons of diverse economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience working with detained noncitizens, preferred.
• Experience working/ coordinating with detention centers, preferred.

We provide paid leave including the following:

• Paid Time Off – Employee earns 12.5 hours per month during the first 2 years of employment (4 weeks), 15.625 per month in years 2-5 (5 weeks), and 18.75 per month after 5 years (6 weeks). Employees can carry up to 80 hours of unused leave from year to year.
• Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST): In compliance with Minnesota law, ILCM will provide employees with paid sick & safe leave under this policy. All employees will receive eighty (80) hours sick and safe time, or pro-rated upon the commencement of employment. Unused sick and safe time will not be carried over from one calendar year to the next, nor will it be paid out at the end of each year.
• Holiday Leave: Most major federal holidays off including the days between Christmas Eve and New Years Day. In addition, ILCM offers one floating holiday and the opportunity to exchange holidays that don’t fall within an employee's religious or cultural background (i.e., alternative holidays).
• Paid Family & Medical Leave: In compliance with Minnesota statute. See Handbook and Benefits Guide for more information.
• We provide competitive benefits including the following:
• Medical, dental and vision insurance (with employer contributions)
• Employer-paid life and disability coverage (voluntary life insurance is available at employee cost)
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match
• FSA and HSA with employer contributions (HSA is only available for employees enrolled in our HSA medical plan)
• Pet Benefits & Pet Discount Program with employer contributions
• A remote connectivity stipend of $50/month
• Payment for organizational/membership dues
• Training/professional development budget of $500/year

Fluency in English and Spanish required.