Policy & Advocacy Fall 2026 Internship
About The Position
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) is seeking Policy & Advocacy Interns for Fall 2026. The Policy & Advocacy (P&A) team supports USCRI's mission by developing positions on international and domestic policy through research, policy development, advocacy, and coalition-building. The team aims to shape equitable systems, elevate refugee and immigrant voices, and drive lasting change. This position does not involve direct client services and requires partial in-person work in Arlington, Virginia. Both part-time and full-time options are available. Interns will contribute to projects tracking policy developments, researching key issues, developing advocacy strategies, and producing written materials. Areas of focus include refugee resettlement, asylum, child displacement, human trafficking, climate displacement, LGBTQ+ refugees, unaccompanied children, and U.S. and international migration policy. Individuals with lived experience of displacement are especially encouraged to apply. USCRI is seeking four interns: one generalist and three focusing on specific portfolios (climate displacement/refugee resettlement/asylum/Latin America; Sub-Saharan Africa/child displacement/Temporary Protected Status; humanitarian systems/Middle East and Asia/human trafficking). While the position is unpaid, USCRI can support interns pursuing academic credit.
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 and maintain professional relationships with staff and collaborators of diverse backgrounds.
- Dedication to advocating for human rights, an interest in policies affecting refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, and displaced people.
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated interest in social services, human rights, international studies, global health, or displacement studies.
- Internationally based work or courses of study.
- Proficiency in additional languages.
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).
Benefits
- Support if the intern pursues academic credit with their university.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
Associate degree
