Policy Internship - Summer 2024

The American Immigration Council (the Council) is looking for a qualified law student to join the policy department as a paid intern for the summer of 2024. The internship is a remote position. 

We Are . . .

The Council works to strengthen America by shaping how America thinks about and acts towards immigrants and immigration and by working toward a more fair and just immigration system that opens its doors to those in need of protection and unleashes the energy and skills that immigrants bring. 

The Council’s Policy Department is staffed by experienced immigration lawyers who endeavor to provide thought leadership and expert insight for today’s immigration debate. In line with the mission of the Council, the Policy Department pursues strategies to limit unfair enforcement policies, protect due process rights and ensure a fair immigration process, reduce restrictions in business immigration, and maintain robust channels for future immigration flows. 

The Policy Department:

• Analyzes existing and proposed immigration policies and offers insight to present to the media, Congress, the public, and during convenings.
• Shapes the public narrative by sharing Council analysis in a timely way with decision makers, writing blog posts for the Council’s blog (immigrationimpact.com), and regularly speaking with the media.
• Educates Members of Congress by organizing and participating in briefings for Members and their staff, submitting statements for the record in committee hearings, providing technical assistance on legislative text, and offering lines of questioning for witnesses at hearings.
• Engages with the oversight bodies of the Department of Homeland Security by filing administrative complaints and leading stakeholder meetings.

Compensation: 

If the applicant cannot secure their own funding, the Council offers a salary of $18/hour for 37.5 hours/week for the duration of the internship.

Interns must be dynamic self-starters with excellent research and writing skills and a demonstrable commitment to social justice and immigrant rights. Prior immigration law or advocacy experience or immigration law course or clinical experience is preferred. Intern assignments include tasks such as assisting with drafting publications (e.g., fact sheets and hearing statements), researching emerging issues, writing blog posts, reporting on congressional hearings, legal research, and identifying case stories to support administrative complaints to agency oversight bodies.  

The Council encourages individuals who have been impacted by the immigration and/or criminal legal systems, as well as bilingual candidates, to apply.

For consideration, qualified applicants are to submit a resume and cover letter. The cover letter should include a summary of how your background, knowledge, and skills relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position.   

NOTE: Applications without cover letters may not be considered. 

The American Immigration Council is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to treating all applicants and employees without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religious creed, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, military and veteran status, citizenship and immigration status, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This equal employment opportunity commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, advertising, recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, demotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. 

The Council believes that diversity is a strength. The Council is committed to being a safe, respectful, and inclusive space, where a broad range of viewpoints and experiences are encouraged and every member of its staff and board is given the opportunity to thrive.