REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS JULY 7, 2025, 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2nd Street 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 or in person, contact Gunjen Mittal at gunjen.mittal@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-6104. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Melissa Ortega, Chair Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Miriam Dorantes, Vice-Chair Diane Kanawati Adrian De La Rosa Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Azeem Edwin Alondra Johnson Yohana Saucedo Aditi Joshi Meghana Roy AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up 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 June 2, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding updates on the procurement process and budget of the Quality-of-Life Study by Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator and Jeremy Garza, Business Process Consultant – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. 4. Update on the most recent Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting held in June 2025, as it relates to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review Report. 6. Approve updates to the membership of the Quality-of-Life Working Group. (Working Group Members: Chair Melissa Ortega, Commissioners Alondra Johnson, Aditi Joshi, Jeanne C Kaba; Community Stakeholders: Karen Crawford, Krystal Gomez, Oscar Ponce, and Kirk Yoshida). 7. Approve updates to the membership of the Budget Working Group. (Working Group Members: Chair Melissa Ortega, Vice Chair Miriam Dorantes, and Commissioner Alondra Johnson). 8. Approve the amendments to Article 3 section A of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs bylaws regarding membership as proposed by the Audit and Finance Committee. 9. Approve the selection of a representative from the Commission on Immigrant Affairs to speak at the July 21st LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission meeting regarding how the LGBTQ Quality …
Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes June 2, 2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 2, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Austin City Hall, W 3rd St, Room 1101 in Austin, Texas. Chair Ortega called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting to order at 6:44 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Alondra Johnson Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Miriam Dorantes, Vice-Chair Aditi Joshi Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigration Affairs regular meeting on May 5, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of May 5, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Joshi’s motion, Commissioner Lincoln-Goldfinch’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Edwin was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes June 2, 2025 2. 3. 4. Briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager – Immigrant Affairs, regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. The presentation was made by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager – Immigrant Affairs. Briefing by Jeremy Garza and Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion, regarding update on Quality-of-Life study of immigrants, refugees and other foreign-born community members. The presentation was made by Jeremy Garza and Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion. Briefing by Dr. Wilson regarding status update for budget of Commission on Immigrant Affairs Study. Withdrawn. PRESENTATION 5. 6. Presentation by Academia Cuauhtli, a community-based education initiative focused on serving Austin’s immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities through culturally and linguistically sustaining programming regarding brief overview of our work and request support for our FY 2025-2026 budget recommendation. The presentation was made by Angela Venezuela, Emilio Zamora, and Dr. Carmen Unda, founders and educators - Academia Cuauhtli. Presentation by Daniela Silva, from Worker’s Defense Action Fund regarding license plate readers pilot program. The presentation was made by Daniela Silva, from Worker’s Defense Action Fund. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. 8. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Withdrawn Discussion regarding the planned sunsetting of the Equity Division’s Undoing Racism trainings for community members, City staff, and Commissioners. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Discussion and action on the proposal made by the Audit and Finance Committee regarding the …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-010: Community Investment Budget 2025/2026 WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to an inclusive and transparent budget development process that utilizes resident and stakeholder feedback to ensure budget priorities are being met1; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has made community engagement a core pillar of its budget planning process, employing a diverse mix of tools and strategies—including multilingual surveys, public meetings, digital budget simulators, and data transparency initiatives—to ensure residents play a meaningful role in shaping the city's funding priorities; and WHEREAS, for the last several years, 30 to 40 community groups have come together on a yearly basis to create detailed budget recommendations known as the Community Investment Budget, issued by Equity Action; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, the 2025/2026 version of the Community Investment Budget addresses concerns that echo or are similar to Joint Inclusion Committee and the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommendations on additional funds for: Immigrant legal and other support services, • • Know Your Rights clinics, • Expansion of programs offered by Office of Equity and Inclusion, • Culturally competent community engagement during emergencies, • Expansion of emergency shelters for inclement weather events, • Expansion of technical apprenticeships and training, • • Numerous recommendations on enhancing childcare services. Implementation of climate resilience and disaster preparedness initiatives, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to instruct the City Manager to work in partnership with the Community Investment Budget feedback process and to incorporate at least 50% of the recommendations, emphasizing that roughly only 11% were reflected in the last year’s budget. 1 https://www.austintexas.gov/page/city-budget Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-011: Establishment of an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Fund WHEREAS, the United States is currently experiencing an aggressive second-term federal enforcement agenda, and the State of Texas is escalating anti-immigrant policies—including local law enforcement cooperation with ICE and bans on sanctuary protections—that have created fear, trauma, and disruption among immigrant, refugee, and foreign-born community members; and WHEREAS, these enforcement actions have led to an alarming increase in family separation, economic disruption, housing instability, and mental health crisis among Austin’s immigrant communities, including children whose caregivers have been detained or deported; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has declared itself a “Freedom City,” prioritizing protections for immigrant residents, advancing racial equity through its Equity Office, and striving to maintain a high quality of life for all residents ; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council and the City Manager have affirmed commitments to equity, inclusivity, and protecting marginalized communities through policies, investments, and Quality of Life research, especially within immigrant and refugee populations; and WHEREAS, the current environment necessitates emergency support mechanisms to address urgent needs—financial, emotional, and mental—resulting from immigration enforcement actions, especially among children and families experiencing ICE raids and caregiver detentions; and WHEREAS, no other entity in Texas is positioned to rapidly deploy funding or mental health services to support these affected community members at scale, making City-led action both necessary and uniquely effective; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 1. The Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to direct the City Manager to collaborate with relevant departments to establish an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Assistance Fund, with the following features: • Immediate cash grants for families who lose their primary breadwinner due to ICE detention or deportation, to address rent, utilities, food, and other essential expenses; • Mental health counseling and trauma support for children and youth impacted by forced family separation; • Flexible funding pathways (such as a dedicated city-managed grant program or partnership with CBOs) to ensure swift, accessible delivery to impacted community members. 2. The Commission recommends that this fund be structured to: • Be activated within 30 days of Council approval; • Prioritize eligibility for families with children under 18 who have lost a …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-012: Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion WHEREAS, since its founding in 2013, Academia Cuauhtli (founded by Nuestro Grupo, a community-based volunteer organization) was established at the ESB-MACC as a free Saturday culture and language revitalization academy for elementary school children and their parents, with a curriculum focused on Indigeneity, social justice, Tejano history, traditional arts, and danza Mexica and since July 2014, Academia Cuauhtli has served as an official educational enterprise partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center (ESB-MACC); and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli, administered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District (AISD), and Nuestro Grupo embraces and fulfills the purpose of “making Austin a place where its high quality of life is available to and accessible for all its citizens” by advocating for educational equity and well-being for Austin Independent School District students in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its vision statement expressed as “a future where children live with a thinking heart and the courage to pursue their aspirations within the liberating and sacred learning spaces” by overseeing the administrative operations for multiple year long projects which include: Saturday Esquelita (September-March), Summer STEM School (June-August), La Collaborativa Cuauhtli, Cuauhtli Teacher Curriculum Workshops, and a research team comprised of 11 qualitative and quantitative education scholars; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission expressed as “to honor our communities' cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities in pursuit of educational freedom” by serving as a means for the comprehensive advancement of the students and their parents—via its strong partnership with students’ parents—by providing a supportive and uplifting learning environment, as well as for providing for the social, and economic needs, including the extensive COVID-related assistance extended to its participant Latino families during the pandemic in Austin, Texas; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauthli fulfills its mission by enrolling from 2014-2024 over 800 AISD emergent bilingual students, trained over 250 Indigenous/Latinx public school teachers, hosted over 25 professional development workshops, initiated Cuauhtli’s Grow Your Own bilingual leadership development program for AISD teachers of color, and successfully implemented a research-university-community partnership between AISD, UT Austin’s College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy faculty and graduate student researchers, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-013: Protecting and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure in Austin WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH) provides vital population-level services that protect over 1.35 million residents, including immunization clinics, HIV and STD testing and treatment, refugee health screenings, violence prevention programming, substance misuse support, and neighborhood centers offering basic needs assistance; and WHEREAS, core public health infrastructure funding in the amount of $9,500,000 is currently at risk due to unstable federal funding streams and national-level proposals to reduce or eliminate key public health support; and WHEREAS, the federal political climate—marked by increasing hostility toward public health institutions—has created uncertainty for municipalities dependent on federal dollars, putting local public health outcomes in jeopardy; and WHEREAS, investing in public health not only enhances the quality of life for all but can also lead to substantial savings over time; and WHEREAS, In 2016, the Austin City Council, through RESOLUTION NO. 20160128-068, adopted a formal policy to invest in additional funding for health and social services; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin fully protect the $9,500,000 currently allocate to Core Public Health Infrastructure along with a dedicated $6,000,000 public health reserve fund to ensure the continuity of essential services in the event of further federal disinvestment or emergency needs; BE IT, FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin prioritize funding for public health programs, advocate at the state and national levels for sustained investment in local public health systems and oppose federal-level efforts that jeopardize public health funding, particularly for historically underserved communities. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-010: Community Investment Budget 2025/2026 WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to an inclusive and transparent budget development process that utilizes resident and stakeholder feedback to ensure budget priorities are being met1; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has made community engagement a core pillar of its budget planning process, employing a diverse mix of tools and strategies—including multilingual surveys, public meetings, digital budget simulators, and data transparency initiatives—to ensure residents play a meaningful role in shaping the city's funding priorities; and WHEREAS, for the last several years, 30 to 40 community groups have come together on a yearly basis to create detailed budget recommendations known as the Community Investment Budget, issued by Equity Action; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, the 2025/2026 version of the Community Investment Budget addresses concerns that echo or are similar to Joint Inclusion Committee and the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommendations on additional funds for: Immigrant legal and other support services, • • Know Your Rights clinics, • Expansion of programs offered by Office of Equity and Inclusion, • Culturally competent community engagement during emergencies, • Expansion of emergency shelters for inclement weather events, • Expansion of technical apprenticeships and training, • • Numerous recommendations on enhancing childcare services. Implementation of climate resilience and disaster preparedness initiatives, and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to instruct the City Manager to work in partnership with the Community Investment Budget feedback process and to incorporate at least 50% of the recommendations, emphasizing that roughly only 11% were reflected in the last year’s budget. 1 https://www.austintexas.gov/page/city-budget Date of Approval: 7/7/2025 Record of the vote: 10-0 Motioned by: Commissioner Johnson Seconded by: Commissioner De La Rosa For: Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioners De La Rosa, Edwin, Johnson, Joshi, Kaba, Kanawati, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Roy Absent: Commissioner Saucedo Attest: Nekaybaw Watson Nekaybaw Watson
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-011: Establishment of an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Fund WHEREAS, the United States is currently experiencing an aggressive second-term federal enforcement agenda, and the State of Texas is escalating anti-immigrant policies—including local law enforcement cooperation with ICE and bans on sanctuary protections—that have created fear, trauma, and disruption among immigrant, refugee, and foreign-born community members; and WHEREAS, these enforcement actions have led to an alarming increase in family separation, economic disruption, housing instability, and mental health crisis among Austin’s immigrant communities, including children whose caregivers have been detained or deported; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin has declared itself a “Freedom City,” prioritizing protections for immigrant residents, advancing racial equity through its Equity Office, and striving to maintain a high quality of life for all residents ; and WHEREAS, over 18 percent of Austin’s residents are foreign-born, and immigrant-founded businesses account for nearly one-quarter of new enterprises in the city, contributing significantly to Austin’s economy and civic vitality ; and WHEREAS, Austin City Council and the City Manager have affirmed commitments to equity, inclusivity, and protecting marginalized communities through policies, investments, and Quality of Life research, especially within immigrant and refugee populations; and WHEREAS, the current environment necessitates emergency support mechanisms to address urgent needs—financial, emotional, and mental—resulting from immigration enforcement actions, especially among children and families experiencing ICE raids and caregiver detentions; and WHEREAS, no other entity in Texas is positioned to rapidly deploy funding or mental health services to support these affected community members at scale, making City-led action both necessary and uniquely effective; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 1. The Commission on Immigrant Affairs urges the Austin City Council to direct the City Manager to collaborate with relevant departments to establish an Immigrant & Refugee Emergency Assistance Fund, with the following features: • Immediate cash grants for families who lose their primary breadwinner due to ICE detention or deportation, to address rent, utilities, food, and other essential expenses; • Mental health counseling and trauma support for children and youth impacted by forced family separation; • Flexible funding pathways (such as a dedicated city-managed grant program or partnership with CBOs) to ensure swift, accessible delivery to impacted community members. 2. The Commission recommends that this fund be structured to: • Be activated within 30 days of Council approval; • Prioritize eligibility for families with children under 18 who have lost a …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-012: Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion WHEREAS, since its founding in 2013, Academia Cuauhtli (founded by Nuestro Grupo, a community-based volunteer organization) was established at the ESB-MACC as a free Saturday culture and language revitalization academy for elementary school children and their parents, with a curriculum focused on Indigeneity, social justice, Tejano history, traditional arts, and danza Mexica and since July 2014, Academia Cuauhtli has served as an official educational enterprise partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center (ESB-MACC); and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli, administered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District (AISD), and Nuestro Grupo embraces and fulfills the purpose of “making Austin a place where its high quality of life is available to and accessible for all its citizens” by advocating for educational equity and well-being for Austin Independent School District students in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its vision statement expressed as “a future where children live with a thinking heart and the courage to pursue their aspirations within the liberating and sacred learning spaces” by overseeing the administrative operations for multiple year long projects which include: Saturday Esquelita (September-March), Summer STEM School (June-August), La Collaborativa Cuauhtli, Cuauhtli Teacher Curriculum Workshops, and a research team comprised of 11 qualitative and quantitative education scholars; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission expressed as “to honor our communities' cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities in pursuit of educational freedom” by serving as a means for the comprehensive advancement of the students and their parents—via its strong partnership with students’ parents—by providing a supportive and uplifting learning environment, as well as for providing for the social, and economic needs, including the extensive COVID-related assistance extended to its participant Latino families during the pandemic in Austin, Texas; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauthli fulfills its mission by enrolling from 2014-2024 over 800 AISD emergent bilingual students, trained over 250 Indigenous/Latinx public school teachers, hosted over 25 professional development workshops, initiated Cuauhtli’s Grow Your Own bilingual leadership development program for AISD teachers of color, and successfully implemented a research-university-community partnership between AISD, UT Austin’s College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy faculty and graduate student researchers, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-013: Protecting and Sustaining Local Public Health Infrastructure in Austin WHEREAS, Austin Public Health (APH) provides vital population-level services that protect over 1.35 million residents, including immunization clinics, HIV and STD testing and treatment, refugee health screenings, violence prevention programming, substance misuse support, and neighborhood centers offering basic needs assistance; and WHEREAS, core public health infrastructure funding in the amount of $9,500,000 is currently at risk due to unstable federal funding streams and national-level proposals to reduce or eliminate key public health support; and WHEREAS, the federal political climate—marked by increasing hostility toward public health institutions—has created uncertainty for municipalities dependent on federal dollars, putting local public health outcomes in jeopardy; and WHEREAS, investing in public health not only enhances the quality of life for all but can also lead to substantial savings over time; and WHEREAS, In 2016, the Austin City Council, through RESOLUTION NO. 20160128-068, adopted a formal policy to invest in additional funding for health and social services; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin fully protect the $9,500,000 currently allocate to Core Public Health Infrastructure along with a dedicated $6,000,000 public health reserve fund to ensure the continuity of essential services in the event of further federal disinvestment or emergency needs; BE IT, FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin prioritize funding for public health programs, advocate at the state and national levels for sustained investment in local public health systems and oppose federal-level efforts that jeopardize public health funding, particularly for historically underserved communities. Date of Approval: 7/7/2025 Record of the vote: 10-0 Motioned by: Commissioner Johnson Seconded by: Commissioner De La Rosa For: Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioners De La Rosa, Edwin, Johnson, Joshi, Kaba, Kanawati, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Roy Absent: Commissioner Saucedo Attest: Nekaybaw Watson Nekaybaw Watson
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: § 2-1-126 - COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS. (B)The commission shall: (1) advise the city council on issues of common concern to immigrants, particularly in the areas of health and human services, education, and the demographic makeup of the Austin immigrant community; (2) monitor requirements of federal, state, and local immigration, welfare and other laws that affect immigrants, and recommend to the city council actions to maximize the benefits to local immigrants under existing laws and to minimize the adverse impacts to local immigrants under the laws; (3) promote recognition of the contributions of the foreign-born to the economic and cultural vitality of Austin; and (4) promote the availability of, and promote accessibility to, local educational, economic, legal, and social resources for immigrants. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. (Reference all reports, recommendations, letters or resolutions presented to the City Council on mission-specific issues. If some of the elements of the mission statement were not acted on by the board in the past year, the report should explain why no action was taken.) The Commission on Immigrant Affairs (CoIA) submitted its budget recommendations to City Council for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. These recommendations were shared with City Council and relevant staff, in alignment with the commission’s advisory role to promote equitable access to educational, economic, legal, health, human services, and social resources for immigrant communities. Annual Review and Work Plan Year Page # In addition to presenting specific recommendations, the commission also emphasized the importance of reporting by advocating for a more strategic and collaborative approach to the budget recommendation process, in keeping with its advisory responsibility. The commission’s approved budget recommendations were as follows: Recommendation 20240916-006 Subject: Budget Reporting Recommendation 20250303-014: Translation and Interpretation Services for Boards and Commissions Recommendation Number: 20250329-007: Family Stabilization Program as a Mechanism for Promoting Housing Stability Recommendation Number: 20250329-008: Reallocation of Quality-of-Life Study Funds to the FY 2025–2026 Budget Recommendation Number: 20250329-006: Providing Funding for Printing and Distribution of 'Know Your Rights' Red Cards at Austin Public Libraries Recommendation Number: 20250329-005: Providing Resources for Immigrant Students Recommendation Number: 20250329-004: Budget Expand Equity and Inclusion …
REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS JUNE 2, 2025 AT 6:30PM W. 3rd Street AUSTIN CITY HALL ROOM 1101 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 Gunjen Mittal at gunjen.mittal@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-6104. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Melissa Ortega, Chair Alondra Johnson Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair Adrian De La Rosa Yohana Saucedo Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Meghana Roy AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up 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 May 5, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager - Immigrant Affairs, regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. 3. Briefing by Jeremy Garza and Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion, regarding update on Quality-of-Life study of immigrants, refugees and other foreign-born community members. 4. Briefing by Dr. Wilson regarding status update for budget of Commission on Immigrant Affairs Study. PRESENTATION 5. Presentation by Academia Cuauhtli, a community-based education initiative focused on serving Austin’s immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities through culturally and linguistically sustaining programming regarding brief overview of our work and request support for our FY 2025–2026 budget recommendation 6. Presentation by Daniela Silva, from Worker’s Defense Action Fund regarding license plate readers pilot program. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. 8. Discussion regarding the planned sunsetting of the Equity Division’s Undoing Racism trainings for community members, City staff, and Commissioners. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Discussion and action on the proposal made by the Audit and Finance Committee regarding the Commission on Immigrant Affairs bylaws. 10. Discussion and action on approving a budget recommendation to amend the contract and close the remaining $90,000 gap for the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ Quality-of-Life Study. 11. Discussion and …
(COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MEETING MINUTES) (05,MAY,2025) COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 5, MAY, 2025 The COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR meeting on 5, MAY, 2025, at W. 3rd Street, AUSTIN CITY HALL, ROOM 1101 in Austin, Texas. Chair MELISSA ORTEGA called the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS Meeting to order at 6:41p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Chair, Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair, Alondra Johnson, Adrian De La Rosa, Aditi Joshi, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair, Adrian De La Rosa, Aditi Joshi, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Jeanne “Canan” Kaba APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS (REGULAR) MEETING on 3, MARCH, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of (3/3/2025) were approved on MIRIAM DORANTES’S motion, ADRIAN DE LA ROSA’S second on a (7-0) vote. (AZEEM EDWIN AND YOHANA SAUCEDO, off the dais or absent) 2. Approve the minutes of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS (REGULAR) MEETING on 15, MARCH, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of (3/15/2025) were approved on JEANNE CANAN KABA’S motion, ADITI JOSHI’S second on a (7-0) vote. (AZEEM EDWIN AND YOHANA SAUCEDO, off the dais or absent) 3. Approve the minutes of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS (REGULAR) MEETING on 29, MARCH, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of (3/29/2025) were approved on ALONDRA JOHNSON’S motion, MIRIAM DORANTES’S second on a (7-0) vote. (AZEEM EDWIN AND YOHANA SAUCEDO, off the dais or absent) Amendment of time end 10:05am. 1 (COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MEETING MINUTES) (05,MAY,2025) STAFF BRIEFINGS 4. Staff briefing regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. The presentation was made by (Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager - Immigrant Affairs). 5. Staff briefing regarding peer commissions currently conducting Quality of Life studies. The presentation was made by (Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion). 6. Staff briefing regarding introductions. The presentation was made by (Dr. Wilson, Equity and Inclusion Director, Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion). 7. Staff briefing regarding introductions. The presentation was made by (Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion). DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. Discussion of welcoming new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Commissioner Lincoln-Goldfinch and Commissioner Johnson introduced themselves to the Commission. 9. Discussion on next steps for the Quality-of-Life Study. No discussion. 10. Discussion and update on …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250602010: Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ Quality of Life Study WHEREAS, the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ Quality -of-Life Study represents the final installment of the five-part Quality of Life Study series originally funded through the $1.25 million allocation in the FY 2022–2023 City of Austin budget; and WHEREAS, due to inflation, increased engagement needs, and a recent $65,000 reallocation to support another study, only $310,000 currently remains available for this effort; and WHEREAS, the Commission on Immigrant Affairs has identified a highly qualified vendor with deep cultural competence and strong community trust who is prepared to begin immediately; the vendor is willing to proceed at the $310,000 level to meet the June 3rd contracting deadline; and WHEREAS, proceeding in this manner would require significant reductions to the study’s core components—either in its qualitative or quantitative methodologies—and would force the removal or limitation of essential safety protocols and language access services; and WHEREAS, these elements are critical for ensuring participant trust, security, and ethical engagement with immigrant, refugee, and foreign-born community members who are facing unprecedented levels of fear, state violence, institutional disenfranchisement; and WHEREAS, unlike any Quality-of-Life Study, this study must navigate: • An increasingly hostile political climate at both the state and federal levels, with targeted policies; • Heighten safety security requirements for participants and researchers alike; • A need for expanded multilingual engagement and interpretation services; WHEREAS, reducing the study’s scope due to budget constraints risk compromising its integrity, accuracy, and long-term policy value. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends City Council to not only support the full $400,00 budget for this study, but to direct the City Manager to instruct the Office of Equity & Inclusion to utilize its 25-26 operating budget to close the 90,000 gap through a contract amendment. This would allow the project to begin on time and ensure the full scope of work is completed with integrity, care, and cultural sensitivity that our immigrant communities deserve. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250602011: Opposing the Use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) Due to Their Impact on Immigrant Communities WHEREAS, Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) collect and store location data on every vehicle that passes their cameras; and WHEREAS, the Austin Police Department (APD) facilitates the basic operations of the Austin Regional Intelligence center (ARIC) where the agency actively shares data and intelligence with many law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and those who are WHEREAS, the data sharing structure places undocumented, at a heightened risk of surveillance, detention, and deportation for routine activities such as driving to work, school, or medical appointments; and immigrant residents, especially WHEREAS, a recent audit1 of the program found “that while the department largely complied with policies during the yearlong pilot, internal audit procedures and vendor contracts left room for improvement and potential privacy risks”2; and WHEREAS, the audit also raised concerns with the vendor Flock Safety’s language, which states Flock has a ‘non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual right’ to use and share anonymized data for development purposes3; and WHEREAS, this unchecked use of surveillance technology creates a chilling effect in immigrant communities, discouraging residents from seeking services, participating in civic life, or interacting with public institution due to fear of exposure and retaliation; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin oppose the deployment and expansion of ALPR systems that endanger the safety and dignity of immigrant communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin commits to policies that protect immigrant residents from federal surveillance and prioritizes investments in community safety, legal services, and trust-based public infrastructure over tools that contribute to the criminalization of immigration.4 1 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=451731 2 https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025/05/audit-flags-oversight-gaps-in-apd-license-plate-reader-pilot/ 3 Ibid., https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025/05/audit-flags-oversight-gaps-in-apd-license-plate-reader- pilot/ Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250602-010: Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ Quality of Life Study WHEREAS, the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ Quality -of-Life Study represents the final installment of the five-part Quality of Life Study series originally funded through the $1.25 million allocation in the FY 2022–2023 City of Austin budget; and WHEREAS, due to inflation, increased engagement needs, and a recent $65,000 reallocation to support another study, only $310,000 currently remains available for this effort; and WHEREAS, the Commission on Immigrant Affairs has identified a highly qualified vendor with deep cultural competence and strong community trust who is prepared to begin immediately; the vendor is willing to proceed at the $310,000 level to meet the June 3rd contracting deadline; and WHEREAS, proceeding in this manner would require significant reductions to the study’s core components—either in its qualitative or quantitative methodologies—and would force the removal or limitation of essential safety protocols and language access services; and these elements are critical for ensuring participant trust, security, and ethical WHEREAS, engagement with immigrant, refugee, and foreign-born community members who are facing unprecedented levels of fear, state violence, institutional disenfranchisement; and WHEREAS, unlike any Quality-of-Life Study, this study must navigate: • An increasingly hostile political climate at both the state and federal levels, with targeted policies; • Heighten safety security requirements for participants and researchers alike; • A need for expanded multilingual engagement and interpretation services; WHEREAS, reducing the study’s scope due to budget constraints risk compromising its integrity, accuracy, and long-term policy value. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends City Council to not only support the full $400,00 budget for this study, but to direct the City Manager to instruct the Office of Equity & Inclusion to utilize its 25-26 operating budget to close the 90,000 gap through a contract amendment. This would allow the project to begin on time and ensure the full scope of work is completed with integrity, care, and cultural sensitivity that our immigrant communities deserve. Date of Approval: June 2, 2025 Record of the vote: 7-0 Motioned by: Commissioner Saucedo Seconded by: Commissioner Kaba For: Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioners De La Rosa, Johnson, Joshi, Kaba, Saucedo Absent: Commissioners Edwin, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Roy Attest: Nekaybaw Watson Nekaybaw Watson
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250602-011: Opposing the Use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) Due to Their Impact on Immigrant Communities WHEREAS, Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) collect and store location data on every vehicle that passes their cameras; and WHEREAS, the Austin Police Department (APD) facilitates the basic operations of the Austin Regional Intelligence center (ARIC) where the agency actively shares data and intelligence with many law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and those who are WHEREAS, the data sharing structure places undocumented, at a heightened risk of surveillance, detention, and deportation for routine activities such as driving to work, school, or medical appointments; and immigrant residents, especially WHEREAS, a recent audit1 of the program found “that while the department largely complied with policies during the yearlong pilot, internal audit procedures and vendor contracts left room for improvement and potential privacy risks”2; and WHEREAS, the audit also raised concerns with the vendor Flock Safety’s language, which states Flock has a ‘non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual right’ to use and share anonymized data for development purposes3; and WHEREAS, this unchecked use of surveillance technology creates a chilling effect in immigrant communities, discouraging residents from seeking services, participating in civic life, or interacting with public institution due to fear of exposure and retaliation; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin oppose the deployment and expansion of ALPR systems that endanger the safety and dignity of immigrant communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends the City of Austin commits to policies that protect immigrant residents from federal surveillance and prioritizes investments in community safety, legal services, and trust-based public infrastructure over tools that contribute to the criminalization of immigration.4 1 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=451731 2 https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025/05/audit-flags-oversight-gaps-in-apd-license-plate-reader-pilot/ 3 Ibid., https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2025/05/audit-flags-oversight-gaps-in-apd-license-plate-reader- pilot/ Date of Approval: June 2, 2025 Record of the vote: 7-0 Motioned by: Commissioner Johnson Seconded by: Commissioner De La Rosa For: Chair Ortega, Vice Chair Dorantes, Commissioners De La Rosa, Johnson, Joshi, Kaba, Saucedo Absent: Commissioners Edwin, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Roy Attest: Nekaybaw Watson Nekaybaw Watson
Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes June 2, 2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 2, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Austin City Hall, W 3rd St, Room 1101 in Austin, Texas. Chair Ortega called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting to order at 6:44 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Alondra Johnson Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Miriam Dorantes, Vice-Chair Aditi Joshi Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigration Affairs regular meeting on May 5, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of May 5, 2025 were approved on Commissioner Joshi’s motion, Commissioner Lincoln-Goldfinch’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Edwin was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes June 2, 2025 2. 3. 4. Briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager – Immigrant Affairs, regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. The presentation was made by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager – Immigrant Affairs. Briefing by Jeremy Garza and Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion, regarding update on Quality-of-Life study of immigrants, refugees and other foreign-born community members. The presentation was made by Jeremy Garza and Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion. Briefing by Dr. Wilson regarding status update for budget of Commission on Immigrant Affairs Study. Withdrawn. PRESENTATION 5. 6. Presentation by Academia Cuauhtli, a community-based education initiative focused on serving Austin’s immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities through culturally and linguistically sustaining programming regarding brief overview of our work and request support for our FY 2025-2026 budget recommendation. The presentation was made by Angela Venezuela, Emilio Zamora, and Dr. Carmen Unda, founders and educators - Academia Cuauhtli. Presentation by Daniela Silva, from Worker’s Defense Action Fund regarding license plate readers pilot program. The presentation was made by Daniela Silva, from Worker’s Defense Action Fund. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. 8. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Withdrawn Discussion regarding the planned sunsetting of the Equity Division’s Undoing Racism trainings for community members, City staff, and Commissioners. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Discussion and action on the proposal made by the Audit and Finance Committee regarding the …
