COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MONDAY, May 2nd, 2022 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL 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 by 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. To register, please contact Sarah Williams at sarah.williams@austintexas.gov or 512-972-5123. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Juan Vences-Benitez, Chair Krystal Gomez, Vice-Chair Sara Becker Karen Crawford Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Rennison Lalgee Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch AGENDA Nicole Merritt Joseph Ramirez-Hernandez Glenn Rosales Karen Reyes CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers who register to speak no later than noon the day before the meeting will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 4, 2022 2. NEW BUSINESS a. U Visa Process at the Travis County Commissioner’s b. Annual report for the Commission a. Budget updates - Karen b. Joint Inclusion Committee meeting updates – Karen 3. OLD BUSINESS c. Report back from ISNA and the RST quarterly consultations – Juan and Rennison d. Updates on the Enhanced Library Card f. Follow up on invitation to tour 911 call center e. Quality of Life Working Group Updates – Juan, Karen, Aditi FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Sarah Williams at the Austin Public Health Department, at 512-972-5123, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, please contact Sarah Williams at 512-972-5123.
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING Monday, May 2, 2022 6:30PM Meeting Minutes Nicole E Merritt Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Sara Becker Boards Members in Attendance: Juan Vences-Benitez, Chair Krystal M Gomez, Vice Chair Karen J Crawford Joseph E Ramirez-Hernandez Rennison Lalgee Board Members not in Attendance: Glenn M Rosales Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Karen Reyes Staff in Attendance: CALL TO ORDER Sarah Williams, Acting Staff Liaison, Administrative Sr for the Health Equity Unit, Austin Public Health Chair Juan Vences-Benitez called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:39 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No speakers registered 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 4, 2022 a. Motion to postpone by Aditi, seconded by Karen Crawford. All in favor, postponed to 2. NEW BUSINESS: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS: June meeting a. U Visa Process i. Krystal and Karen Crawford met with the District Attorney to discuss how their office is overhauling their U Visa Process policies. They are trying to standardize best practice. ii. Kate and Karen met with Lt. Chomout about APD’s role in the U Visa process. They confirmed that they will not certify Class C’s because they do not investigate them. They will refer them to help. Also discussed the U Visa Review Panel. There was a change in policy within APD which created this Committee and made it impossible to review or re-consider decisions made in U Visa process. APD was hesitant to create review process because they lacked staff. COIA created a volunteer group to help them with these reviews for the last few years. APD confirmed in this meeting that they will be taking over this process and are currently working out details. 1. Karen will forward summary notes from the meeting. 2. Will ask APD to give a briefing at a future meeting about their updates to the U Visa process. iii. Received a request from a local attorney to talk to the Travis County Attorney’s office because they have had applications pending for over a year. There are children aging out because of the long wait times and they cannot get any response from the office. 1. Commission can ask if they will come to a future meeting for a briefing on the current process and wait times. 2. Vice-Chair Krystal will email Lucio Del Toro to ask for clarification as to why the wait times are so high. 3. Karen will reach out to …
