Immigration beat: Homeland security is looking for interns

The Department of Homeland Security is looking for several unpaid student interns in the Twin Cities for the spring of 2014 under a program called the Cyber Student Initiative.

Interns would work with the computer forensics division of Homeland Security Investigations.

There are at least two positions open in the Twin Cities, and possibly more if there is enough interest.

The program is designed for current college students pursuing a program of study in a cybersecurity-related field. Participants will perform a broad range of duties in support of the agency's cybersecurity mission in areas ranging from cyber threat analysis to digital forensics to network diagnostics and incident response.

In the past, assignments have included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations computer forensics labs, and state and major urban area fusion centers.

The program has been expanded to include the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer, and additional state and major urban area fusion centers and ICE labs.

Nationally, more than 100 unpaid student internships will be available to support the cyber mission at local field offices in more than 60 locations across the country.

In a statement, the agency said it believes that providing internship opportunities is vital in cultivating its next generation of cybersecurity workers.

A 2012 task force on improving U.S. cybersecurity recommended dramatically expanding the pipeline of highly qualified candidates for technical jobs through partnerships with community colleges, universities, organizers of cyber competitions and other federal agencies.

Student volunteers will begin in spring 2014 and participate throughout the summer.