Summer Intern, Immigration: Hemispheric Migration

Overview

Emerson Collective (EC) is a company of investors, changemakers, creative thinkers, and problem solvers working to make a lasting mark on the world. 

Emerson Collective’s summer internship program places rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors - and, for select opportunities, undergraduate students graduating in 2026 - in paid internship opportunities across Emerson Collective and our longstanding nonprofit partners XQ Institute, E Pluribus Unum, and Chicago CRED. 

We’re looking for college students who think big, embrace challenges, and thrive in collaboration.

The internship is onsite, 40 hours per week, from June 15 through August 7, 2026. A mandatory paid virtual onboarding and orientation will take place June 10–12. See below for more details.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

The Opportunity

The Hemispheric Migration team seeks to promote a coordinated and humane approach to migration across the Americas. We support efforts to build policy solutions that prioritize and engage affected communities while strengthening systems that ensure migration is safe, legal, and orderly. Our work promotes and helps implement regional and sub-regional frameworks for managing migration that expand safe, legal migration pathways and help stabilize and integrate migrant populations in major Latin American host countries.

As the Hemispheric Migration intern, you’ll help advance our mission by executing critical research and writing projects that support the program’s priorities, including conducting research, drafting executive summaries, and providing analysis to inform our strategy and partnerships across the region.

• Support programmatic work on hemispheric migration focused on strengthening labor mobility pathways and advancing socioeconomic integration of migrants in key countries such as Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador.
• Conduct research, draft briefing materials, and provide analysis to inform partnership strategies across the region.
• Assist in planning and coordinating regional trips and convenings, as relevant, including developing briefing books and other preparatory materials.
• Provide organizational and administrative support, including scheduling, documentation, and coordination with partners and internal teams.
• Compile and distribute regular news clips and policy updates to keep the team informed of relevant regional developments.
• Support the broader Immigration team as needed in advancing strategic objectives and partnerships.

• Rising undergraduate senior, preferably pursuing a degree related to public policy, political science, urban studies, migration studies, history, sociology, ethnic studies, and/or Latin American studies. 
• Knowledge of and interest in relevant topical areas, including Latin American policy, labor pathways, migration governance, and human mobility.
• Familiarity with Mexico, Colombia, and/or Ecuador is preferred.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, accessible summaries and recommendations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to develop materials for internal and external audiences.
• An all-hands-on-deck approach to working in a collaborative environment.
• Portuguese and/or Spanish fluency is strongly preferred, though not required.

Internship Details

Compensation

- All interns are paid $25 per hour and can expect to work 40 hours per week from June 15 to August 7 (eight weeks).

- Interns will also be paid $25 per hour for onboarding and orientation sessions taking place June 10–12.

- All interns receive a lunch allowance and a commuter allowance, and may also receive travel and housing allowances as needed. 

Key Dates

- November 18 – January 9: Internship applications accepted; interviews begin on a rolling basis

Applications must be submitted by 2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET on Friday, January 9.

(Please note that not all applicants will be selected for interviews.)

- January 12 – March 7: Interviews continue and offers extended

- June 10–12: Mandatory virtual onboarding and orientation

- June 15: Internship program begins

- August 7: Internship program concludes