The ideal immigration policy fellow will support Niskanen’s vision for a more open immigration system and contribute research and writing assistance on all aspects of U.S. immigration policy. With a particular emphasis on developing policy proposals to appeal to a bipartisan audience, the fellow will examine both technical tweaks and sweeping reform proposals to advance the U.S. immigration system.
About The Niskanen Center
In 2023, TIME Magazine named the Niskanen Center “The Most Interesting Think Tank in American Politics.” Niskanen promotes policies that advance prosperity, opportunity, and human flourishing, guided by the belief that a free market and an effective government are mutually dependent.
We are forging a new vision of American governance that draws on ideas from across the ideological spectrum, an approach made possible by our independence from rigid political coalitions. Our ideological openness gives us credibility to work with a broad range of actors, meeting them on their own terms and helping them converge on policies they might support for different reasons. We thus aspire to be a voice for the hopes and ambitions of Americans who feel shut out by the hostility of our politics.
The Niskanen Center is committed to the premise that immigration is an irreplaceable pillar of America’s economic, civic, and cultural strength. Our ability to attract the brightest minds and hardest workers worldwide has helped usher in an unprecedented period of U.S. innovation and dynamism. Our economic health depends on newcomers who fill critical gaps in our workforce, pay billions of dollars in taxes every year, and employ millions of Americans in their businesses.
Still, inaction has become the hallmark of contemporary immigration policy. Years of partisan and congressional gridlock have instilled a sense of complacency in the face of mounting backlogs and challenges. Niskanen’s immigration department works to address these issues through four concrete policy areas that can garner bipartisan support: The involvement of everyday Americans in an expanded refugee sponsorship and resettlement system; the creation of reformed legal pathways that encourage economic growth; the enhancement of domestic and national security through the deployment of soft power and security initiatives; and the rebuilding of an effective immigration system.
Immigration was integral to America’s past, and by focusing on these policy issues, the Niskanen Center works to ensure it will also be central to our future economic and cultural health and prosperity.
Program Description
Niskanen’s Policy Fellow Program is aimed at graduate students in school or young professionals working in collaboration with an educational or veteran institution to provide nonprofit experience. The termed position is six months long but may be extended for up to one additional six-month term. The fellowship is an immersive opportunity for candidates to explore how think tanks influence public policy. Our program fellows will regularly publish work and help represent Niskanen to external audiences, including coalition partners, Capitol Hill staff, and other immigration stakeholders.
Position Description
The ideal immigration policy fellow will support Niskanen’s vision for a more open immigration system and contribute research and writing assistance on all aspects of U.S. immigration policy. With a particular emphasis on developing policy proposals to appeal to a bipartisan audience, the fellow will examine both technical tweaks and sweeping reform proposals to advance the U.S. immigration system. The average day could include reading an academic paper on the Diversity Visa and summarizing the findings in a blog post, collaborating on a research memo for a Senate office on the Conrad-30 program, and having a virtual coffee with a leading expert on refugee resettlement.
The Niskanen fellow will attend seminars with the summer interns featuring Niskanen Center policy, strategy, and senior staff and attend bi-weekly meetings with the immigration department. By the end of the fellowship, fellows will have experience influencing public policy, working with editors to publish analysis, crafting legislative strategy, cultivating research questions, and promoting bipartisan solutions in a polarized Congress. The fellow will depart with a portfolio of writing samples, industry relationships, and knowledge of many aspects of U.S. immigration law.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to and independently author research memos, white papers, blog posts, and advocacy materials;
- Monitor pending or proposed policy, legislation, academic research, and rules;
- Stay up to date on relevant academic and think tank research; and
- Prepare internal communications for the Niskanen immigration team.
Minimum Qualifications
- Familiarity with immigration policy and a commitment to the vision of immigration policy laid out by the Niskanen Center and our theory of policy change;
- B.A. or higher in public policy, political science, international affairs, or economics; graduate students with some professional experience preferred;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Action-oriented, creative, and entrepreneurial self-starter who assumes personal ownership of work and is capable of effectively prioritizing and working simultaneously on multiple projects;
- A high degree of integrity and ability to build trust with and collaborate with external stakeholders and partners from a diverse network of organizations and affiliates; and
- We strongly prefer candidates with an interest in economic immigration policy.
Benefits and Diversity Commitment
We offer policy fellows a $3500/month stipend.
The Niskanen Center is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants are considered for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status. We also seek to expand our professional networks and workplace composition to reflect better our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
How to Apply
We will begin reviewing submissions on Monday, May 20, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the role is filled. Please include a cover letter, resume, and a 500-1000-word writing sample (preferably tailored towards a policy-minded audience) in one PDF file using the link below.