The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) is a national nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes fundamental fairness for immigrants accused or convicted of crimes. IDP seeks to minimize the harsh and disproportionate immigration consequences of contact with the criminal legal system by working to transform unjust deportation laws and policies, and by educating and advising immigrants, their criminal defenders, and other advocates.
IDP is now accepting applications from law students seeking internships for summer 2022. Our interns get unique exposure to both the criminal and immigration systems and an opportunity to develop substantive legal expertise. They can work on these issues from a holistic perspective that includes policy, litigation, and community outreach.
Based on the intern’s interests and program needs, potential projects for this term could include:
· Supporting our national hotline by conducting phone screenings and intake interviews with hotline callers, including immigrants and their loved ones, attorneys, and advocates. Interns doing hotline work also have the opportunity to provide detailed legal analyses to hotline callers upon review with an attorney.
· Supporting our raids work, particularly monitoring ICE enforcement in NY as reported through our hotline and other channels.
· Supporting our impact litigation, including research and writing on cutting-edge legal arguments challenging criminal grounds of removability, ICE enforcement practices, and immigration detention.
· Developing resources for public defender offices and immigration legal service providers across the country regarding the immigration consequences of contact with the criminal legal system.
We have helped many of our past interns find employment at public defender offices, immigrant rights organizations, and other social justice organizations. We work hard to ensure that interns get the most out of their experience and provide training and a dynamic work environment.
IDP’s summer internship program runs for ten weeks. IDP is currently a hybrid office with staff working both remotely and in-person. We anticipate the internship program will follow the same model and strongly prefer candidates who can be in the NYC area.
To apply:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and references to Intern Hiring Committee at internships[at]immdefense[dot]org with the subject line “Summer Internship Application”.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but we encourage interested applicants to apply early. Please note that applicants must seek outside funding from their law schools or other funders. We are happy to support these efforts.
The Immigrant Defense Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively recruits women, people of color, persons with disabilities, persons with diverse gender and sexual identities, immigrants, and formerly incarcerated persons.