How to apply for Habeas Operations Senior Manager

About Immigrant ARC

Immigrant ARC is a non-profit that grew out of the legal response at JFK Airport during the Muslim Ban. It coordinates over 100 legal service providers in New York State and has run frontline responses to the Afghan evacuation, Ukrainian refugee reception, and recent arrivals to New York City. Its New York Habeas Program matches immigration attorneys with volunteer federal litigators and expert mentors to litigate habeas petitions for detained New Yorkers.

About the role

The Habeas Operations Senior Manager runs the operations of the New York Habeas Program. This includes matching immigration attorneys with pro bono federal litigators and mentors, tracking cases, and keeping the program running as demand changes. The role directly affects whether detained New Yorkers get full habeas representation.

A typical day

A typical day may involve reviewing new habeas cases, matching immigration attorneys with volunteer federal litigators and expert mentors, checking in with providers across New York State, and updating case tracking systems. You would likely spend time on remote coordination calls and troubleshooting case flow. Exact daily routines are not described in the posting, so ask about team structure and tools during the interview.

Who Immigrant ARC is looking for

• Has experience running or coordinating a pro bono or legal services program, ideally involving federal litigation or habeas work
• Knows immigration law and practice well enough to understand what a habeas petition requires and who is qualified to work on it
• Is organized enough to manage case intake, volunteer matching, mentor assignments, and case tracking across many providers
• Can work remotely with a statewide network of over 100 legal service providers and volunteer federal litigators

Tips for this application

• Read the full job description on Immigrant ARC's website or the original posting, since the details above are truncated and may omit key responsibilities or qualifications.
• In your materials, name specific habeas or federal litigation work you have supported, including how you matched attorneys, tracked cases, or managed volunteers.
• Show that you understand Immigrant ARC's New York Habeas Program model: immigration attorneys paired with volunteer federal litigators and expert mentors.
• If you have worked with New York State legal service providers or detention-related advocacy, say so directly and name the organizations or counties.
• Address how you would handle remote coordination across a network of over 100 providers, including tools or processes you have used.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain why you want to run operations for a habeas program rather than a general legal services program. Describe your experience matching volunteers to cases or managing pro bono placements. Give an example of how you tracked cases or kept a program organized under high demand. State what you know about Immigrant ARC's history, including the Muslim Ban response at JFK and the Afghan and Ukrainian efforts.

Research before applying

• Read the full New York Habeas Program description on Immigrant ARC's website, including how petitions are matched and litigated.
• Look up Immigrant ARC's responses to the Afghan evacuation, Ukrainian refugee reception, and recent New York City arrivals to understand current program demands.
• Find public information on habeas litigation for detained immigrants in New York State, including which courts and agencies are involved.
• Check the backgrounds of Immigrant ARC's leadership and the over 100 legal service providers in its network to understand who you would coordinate with.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you match immigration attorneys with volunteer federal litigators and expert mentors for habeas petitions?
• Describe a time you managed a pro bono or legal program with many moving parts and limited staff.
• What do you know about habeas litigation for detained immigrants in New York, and how would that shape your operations work?
• How would you keep case tracking and volunteer coordination running remotely across over 100 legal service providers?
• Why do you want to work at Immigrant ARC specifically, given its history from the Muslim Ban response to the Afghan and Ukrainian efforts?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without addressing habeas or federal litigation experience, since this role is specifically for a habeas program.
• Writing a generic non-profit cover letter that does not mention Immigrant ARC's history, its New York Habeas Program, or its statewide provider network.
• Ignoring the remote and statewide coordination aspect, which is central to managing a program across over 100 providers.