Senior Immigration Enforcement & Courts Reporter

Position

Senior Immigration Enforcement & Courts Reporter

Borderless Magazine NFP

Full-Time Exempt Employee

Chicago with hybrid remote and in‑person work

$70,000 to $80,000+ Plus benefits;
Salary is contingent on experience

Rolling

March 2, 2026

www.borderless mag.org

Borderless Magazine is an award‑winning nonprofit news outlet reimagining immigration journalism for a more just and equitable future. We report and publish stories in both English and Spanish through our online publication. We work with immigrants and their allies to tell their own stories, and we train journalists to report on immigration issues. We won the 2024 Next Challenge’s “Future of Local Journalism” award for our community‑centered reporting.

Find out more derlessmag.org.

Borderless is seeking a Senior Immigration Enforcement & Courts Reporter who will lead our coverage of immigration enforcement, detention, deportation proceedings, and related court cases, with a focus on how federal and local policies impact immigrant communities in the Chicagoland area. This is an extraordinary opportunity to join a diverse leadership team at an organization that values work‑life balance. This is a new role, and we are seeking an individual who is ready to hit the ground running.

• Produce compelling, accountability‑driven reporting on immigration enforcement practices, ICE operations, and immigration court proceedings
• Develop and maintain relationships with sources, including immigrants, attorneys, advocates, law enforcement officials, and court personnel
• Cover federal immigration policy developments, their local implementation and impact
• Investigate systemic issues within the immigration enforcement and judicial systems
• Attend court hearings, community meetings, and other relevant events
• Collaborate with editors and other reporters on enterprise and investigative projects
• Engage with readers and community members through events and social media
• Mentor junior reporters and contribute to the newsroom's immigration coverage strategy

• Manages a high volume of work efficiently:
  Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize without sacrificing quality. Plans backward to make deadlines.
• Attention to detail:
  Notices and fixes errors that others might overlook. Acknowledges mistakes and turns them into learning opportunities. Has a track record of leaving things better than they found them.
• Strong sense of ownership and resilience:
  Plans ahead and finds alternative paths, when needed, to get to the finish line. Bounces back from setbacks and rejections. Holds a high bar even when things are hectic.
• Proactive problem solving:
  Proactively develop solutions to challenges, including constantly looking at big‑picture progress and flagging any potential upcoming challenges in the organization overall.
• Flexibility:
  Ready to take advantage of unexpected opportunities; quickly adapts as things change.

• Minimum 10+ years of professional journalism experience, with demonstrated expertise in immigration, legal, or investigative reporting
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Chicago, Illinois
• Proven ability to cultivate sources and break news in sensitive, complex subject areas
• Strong understanding of immigration law, enforcement procedures, and court systems
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to make complex legal and policy issues accessible to general audiences
• Experience reporting on marginalized communities with cultural sensitivity and ethical rigor
• Ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines
• Commitment to accuracy, fairness, and ethical journalism practices

We know some great candidates may not precisely fit into this job description or may possess important skills we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

• Spanish language proficiency
• Experience covering federal courts or criminal justice systems
• Familiarity with Chicago's immigrant communities and local immigration enforcement landscape
• Data journalism skills and…