REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026, AT 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2nd ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Nekaybaw Watson, 512-974-2562, nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS : Miriam Dorantes, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Diane Kanawati Melissa Ortega Caroline Solis AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Azeem Edwin Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regular meeting on January 5, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by American Gateways regarding successes with the City of Austin and a request for the prioritization of immigration funding in the FY 26-27 budget. Presentation by Edna Yang, Co- Executive Director, American Gateways. 3. Discussion of community concern around interactions between Austin Police with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from the Budget Working Group regarding areas of support and deadlines for the submission of budget recommendations. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a list of budget priorities for each commissioner’s district. 6. Approve the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ alternative representative for the Joint Inclusion Committee. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Nekaybaw Watson at Austin City Clerk’s Office Department, at 512-974-2562 or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission on Immigrant Affairs please contact Nekaybaw Watson at 512-974-2562 or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Commissioner Ortega called the meeting to order at 6:41pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi Melissa Ortega Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Adrian De La Rosa Canan Kaba Diane Kanawati Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo Caroline Solis Commissioners Absent: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Alondra Johnson, Vice Chair Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting on December 1, 2025. 1 The minutes of the December 1st, 2025, regular meeting of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs was approved during the January 5th, 2026, regular meeting on Commissioner Kanawati’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on a 9-0 vote. Chair Dorantes, Vice Chair Johnson, and Commissioner Lincoln-Goldfinch were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the upcoming programs and services for immigrant support and a recap of Welcoming Week 2025. Presentation provided by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Rocio Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs Manager and DACA Liaison Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. The presentation was made by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Rocio Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs Manager and DACA Liaison Officer. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ primary representative for the Joint Inclusion Committee. The motion to approve Commissioner Diane Kanawati as the primary representative for the Joint Inclusion Committee was approved on Commissioner Ortega’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on a 9-0 vote. Chair Dorantes, Vice Chair Johnson, and Commissioner Lincoln-Goldfinch were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Approve the appointment of an alternate representative for the Joint Inclusion Committee. Human Rights Framework Presentation including milestones, expected outcomes, and commission feedback. – Joshi, Ortega Update from the Budget Working Group, Quality of Life Study Working Group, and U-Visa T-Visa Working Group. – Ortega, Joshi ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned without objection at 7:26p.m. on Commissioner Ortega’s motion. 2
REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MONDAY, JANUARY 5th, 2026, AT 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2nd ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Nekaybaw Watson, 512-974-2562, nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS : Miriam Dorantes, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Diane Kanawati Melissa Ortega Caroline Solis AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Azeem Edwin Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regular meeting on December 1st, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the upcoming programs and services for immigrant support and a recap of Welcoming Week 2025. Presentation provided by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Rocio Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs Manager and DACA Liaison Officer, Austin Equity, and Inclusion. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ primary representative for the Joint Inclusion Committee. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Nekaybaw Watson at Austin City Clerk’s Office Department, at 512-974-2562 or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission on Immigrant Affairs please contact Nekaybaw Watson at 512-974-2562 or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Johnson called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Alondra Johnson (Vice-Chair) Adrian De La Rosa Diane Kanawati Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi Canan Kaba Melissa Ortega Yohana Saucedo Caroline Solis PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting on November 3, 2025. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Joshi’s motion, Commissioner Kanawati’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Edwin was off the dais. Chair Dorantes and Commissioners Lincoln-Goldfinch and Roy were absent. 1 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding tenant and homeowner stabilization programs. Presentation provided by Susan Watkins, Division Manager, Austin Housing. The presentation was made by Susan Watkins, Division Manager, and Nefertitti Jackmon, Community Displacement Prevention Officer, Austin Housing. 3. Staff briefing regarding the Utility Assistance Program data and qualifications to apply. Presentation provided by Gerardo “Jerry” Galvan, Vice President of Customer Care Services, Austin Energy. The presentation was provided by Gerardo “Jerry” Galvan, Vice President of Customer Care Services, Austin Energy. Melissa Ortega dropped off in the middle of this item. 4. Staff briefing by Jennifer Peters, Division Manager Programs and Partnerships, Austin Public Library regarding an update on the enhanced library cards. The presentation was provided by Jennfier Peters, Division Manager of Programs and Partnerships and Christina Nelson, Division Manager, Austin Public Library. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Senior Business Process Consultant, Austin Equity and Inclusion regarding Mapping Opportunity and identifying disparities across different Austin communities. Presentation was provided by Gary Aaron, Senior Business Process Consultant, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion regarding Mapping Opportunity and identifying dipartites across different Austin communities. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. 7. Update on the Budget Working Group regarding last meeting. Update by Vice Chair Johnson and Commissioner Kanawati. Update on the Quality-of-Life Study reading last meeting. Update by Vice Chair Johnson. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Presentation about changes to the asylum process – Commissioner De La Rosa ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned without objection at 8:50 p.m. on Commissioner Kanawati’s motion. 2
