Policy & Advocacy Fall 2026 Internship

OVERVIEW OF TEAM

USCRI’s Policy & Advocacy (P&A) team supports USCRI’s mission by leading the development of the organization’s positions on international and domestic policy. Through research, policy development, advocacy, and coalition-building, the team works to shape equitable systems, elevate refugee and immigrant voices, and drive lasting change locally, nationally, and globally.  P&A works closely with programmatic, international, and communications staff to achieve this mission. 

This position does not entail providing or assisting with direct client services. This position requires partial in-person work in Arlington, Virginia. Part-time and full-time options are available.

POSITION

The USCRI Policy & Advocacy Interns will support the P&A team by contributing to projects that track domestic and international policy developments, research key issues, develop advocacy strategies, and produce written materials on policy and advocacy topics. Analysts' portfolios span refugee resettlement and durable solutions for displaced persons, asylum and humanitarian protection, child displacement, human trafficking, third-country deportations, climate displacement, LGBTQ+ refugees, unaccompanied children, and U.S. and international migration policy. Interns will have the opportunity to support policy writing and advocacy on these topics. Strong candidates are passionate about immigration and human rights, and capable of conducting independent research and supporting advocacy initiatives. Individuals with lived experience of displacement are especially encouraged to apply. We are seeking four interns: one generalist to work with our director, and three to work with each of the analysts on their respective portfolios: (1) climate displacement/refugee resettlement/asylum/Latin America; (2) Sub-Saharan Africa/child displacement/Temporary Protected Status; (3) humanitarian systems/the Middle East and Asia/human trafficking.

For examples of work products supported by past interns, please see: 

• No Shelter: India’s Selective Abandonment of its Refugees - USCRI
• At Home, a Stranger: Challenges for New Returnees in El Salvador - USCRI
• Refugees Twice Over: Climate Migration and ‘Double Displacement’ - USCRI
• Their Future, Their Voice - USCRI

While the position is unpaid, USCRI is happy to provide support if the intern pursues academic credit with their university.

This application cycle is for the Fall intern period (September-December). 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assistpolicy analysts by tracking domestic and international policy changes, researching policy issues and international country conditions, and preparing written materials on policy and advocacy topics.
• Listen to and/or attendadvocacy meetings, webinars, governmental hearings, and intergovernmental gatherings;
• Collaborate withpolicyanalystsand communications staffon public education and advocacy strategies.
• Support policy analysts inidentifyingfundraising opportunities for advocacy projects.
• Interns who excel in their role will have the opportunity to publish their own materials.

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