Policy & Advocacy Fall 2026 Internship

Policy & Advocacy Interns

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization with a mission to protect the rights and address the needs of persons in migration by advancing fair and humane public policy, facilitating and providing direct professional services, and promoting the full participation of migrants in community life. To learn more about our work, please visit our official website ugees.org.

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.

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.

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

• Assist policy 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 attend advocacy meetings, webinars, governmental hearings, and intergovernmental gatherings;
• Collaborate with policy analysts and communications staff on public education and advocacy strategies.
• Support policy analysts in identifying fundraising opportunities for advocacy projects.
• Interns who excel in their role will have the opportunity to publish their own materials.

Other job-related duties may be assigned as agreed upon by the intern and supervisor(s).

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an undergraduate, graduate, or law school program. Preference for current graduate students.
• Experience with policy analysis, research, writing, and editing;
• Ability to work on new, developing projects;
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint);
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively collaborate with people of diverse professional experiences;
• Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to summarize policy issues for diverse audiences;
• Dedication to uplifting the voices of refugees, asylees, and other immigrant populations;
• Demonstrated sensitivity and empathy for the experiences of forcibly displaced populations and people of diverse backgrounds;
• Ability to interpret policy documents, legislation, and data to draw meaningful insights;
• Ability to establish…