INTERNSHIPS

If you are interested in combating white supremacy and the structural racism of our immigration system by working in solidarity with refugees at the US-México border, you’ve come to the right place. If you would like to learn what it means to approach this work from an abolitionist #burnitalldown perspective, Al Otro Lado is the organization for you. Al Otro Lado continues to provide legal orientation and advocacy to asylum seekers in Tijuana, Mexico and border-wide through an almost entirely remote service delivery model, and we have internship opportunities available!

To apply, please fill out our Volunteer Application. If you have any questions, feel free to email our Intern Coordinator at volunteer@alotrolado.org.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; however, the openings for each season are determined a couple of months in advance.

Internship assignments and responsibilities se modifican a la par de nuestros programas. These are some of the internship assignments and responsibilities, including but not limited to:

  • Conducting legal intakes

  • Support for SharePoint intranet development

  • Data management and analysis

  • Screening clients for eligibility for relief

  • Preparing humanitarian parole documents

  • Communication with sponsors to gather case documents

  • Drafting motions and briefs

  • Contacting clients to confirm appointments and updates

  • Special projects related to impact litigation and advocacy before international human rights monitoring bodies

  • Assisting with coordination of translation of evidence

  • Interpreting for client appointments

  • Grant writing and development support

  • Social media and communications support

  • Video editing and graphic design

  • Other administrative duties

All training will be provided remotely by Al Otro Lado and incorporated into the internship.

Internships run for a total of 10–12 weeks, depending on the season; exact dates are included below. All seasons require a minimum of 12 hours per week. Although the internship is remote, most interns’ work hours are between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, in order to facilitate regular meetings with supervisors.

Furthermore, interns must be able to offer availability in no less than 4-hour time blocks.

Internship dates are as follows:

Winter 2026

  • January 12- March 20

  • Minimum 12-hours per week requirement

Spring 2026

  • March 23 - June 5  

  • Minimum 12-hours per week requirement

Summer 2026

  • June 8 - August 13

  • Minimum 15-hours per week requirement

fall 2026

  • September 7 - November 27

  • Minimum 12-hours per week requirement

winter 2027

  • January 11- March 19

  • Minimum 12-hours per week requirement

 
 

Internship opportunities with Al Otro Lado are open to  undergraduate, masters, doctoral, and law students, as well as members of the community who are looking to become more involved in the field of immigration and human rights. Al Otro Lado is looking for individuals with a commitment to social justice. Applicants should be self-directed, highly organized, flexible, and able to focus under the inevitable pressure of working within a violently racist immigration system designed to erode the rights of immigrants. Fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, Dari and Pashto is strongly preferred, as well as Indigenous languages, including Mixteco, Nahuat, Tzotzil, Mam, K’iche, Garifuna, Miskito.

Al Otro Lado values diversity in the workplace, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, individuals with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities, including undocumented persons, Indigenous communities, and single-parents.