Immigration Court Observation Project Internship
Please note that internship applications must be submitted through the form on our website.
Location: Mostly in-person (in person at court in Bloomington, other responsibilities can be a combination of in-office and remote)
This internship is designed for individuals with an interest in immigration, human rights, law, and/or public policy. Interns will have the opportunity to observe immigration court proceedings, interact with court observers, work with project data, and provide programmatic support. This internship is 10-20 hours per week.
The Immigration Court Observation (ICO) project draws on international human rights standards and the practice of court monitoring to promote human rights in the immigration system. Court observers attend hearings at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court and document issues relating to due process, access to asylum and other immigration relief, detention conditions, and more. ICO seeks to bring transparency to the immigration courts and to raise public awareness of how the US immigration system works.
Primary duties and responsibilities:
- Observe hearings at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court at the Whipple Federal Building (this duty is required; applicants must be able to attend hearings in person)
- Assist with entering court observation data
- Assist with data management and preliminary analysis for data reports
- Assist with building training materials for volunteer observers
- Attend monthly volunteer debriefs (as schedule allows)
Experience and qualifications:
- Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Attention to detail and ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Sensitivity to diverse cultures
- Strong professional boundaries and commitment to maintaining confidentiality
- Strong interpersonal skills to engage with volunteer observers
- Passion for human rights work and working in solidarity with immigrant communities
- No prior immigration experience is needed but must be interested in learning a lot of information in a short amount of time
Questions?
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page. If your question is not answered in there, you can email internships@advrights.org. Please note that internship applications must be submitted using the form on our website.
