REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MAY 5, 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 Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair Adrian De La Rosa Yohana Saucedo Aditi Joshi Jeanne “Canan” Kaba 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 March 3, 2025. 2. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs special called meeting on March 15, 2025. 3. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs special called meeting on March 29, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 4. Briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager - Immigrant Affairs, regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. 5. Briefing by Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion, regarding peer commissions currently conducting Quality of Life studies. 6. Briefing by Dr. Wilson, Equity and Inclusion Director, Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion regarding introductions. 7. Briefing by Shafina Kakhi, Human Rights Officer, Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion regarding introductions. DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. 9. Discussion on next steps for the Quality-of-Life Study. 10. Discussion and update on the Joint Inclusion Committee Special Called Meeting. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 11. Discussion and approval for the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ nomination and election for Chair. 12. Discussion and approval for the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ nomination and election for Vice Chair. 13. Discussion and approval for the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ nomination and election for JIC’s Primary Representative. 14. Discussion and approval for the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ nomination and election for JIC’s …
(COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) MEETING MINUTES (3, MARCH, 2025) COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 3, MARCH, 2025 The COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR meeting on 3, MARCH, 2025, at AUSTIN CITY HALL, W. 3rd ST, ROOM 1101 in Austin, Texas. Chair MELISSA ORTEGA called the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS Meeting to order at 6:44p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Miriam Dorantes, Adrian De La Rosa, Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely:, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo, Aditi Joshi DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regular meeting on January 6, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of (1/6/2025) were approved on ADITI JOSHI’S motion, MIRIAM DORANTES’S second on a (7-0) vote. (KEVIN COUNTIE AND SHWETA PADMANABHA abstaining, off the dais or absent) STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding general updates on policies pertaining to the Immigrant Community. The presentation was made by Lieutenant Davis Christopher, Austin Police Department. 3. Staff briefing regarding the new citywide language access plan. The presentation was made by Houmma Garba, Language Access and Community Engagement Consultant from the Corporate Communications & Public Information Office. 4. Staff briefing regarding general updates on immigrant affairs. The presentation was made by Rocio Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs Program Manager at the Office of Equity and Inclusion. 5. Staff briefing regarding timeline and steps for Quality of Life Study. The presentation was made by by Alejandra Mireles, Equity and Inclusion Program Coordinator from (Equity Division) Office of Equity and Inclusion 1 (COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) MEETING MINUTES (3, MARCH, 2025) PRESENTATION 6. Presentation was regarding an update on their work, to highlight the effective use of the City's support as the recipient of a City of Austin grant to provide vital legal immigration services to low-income residents and advocate for continued funding for immigration legal services in next year's City budget. Presentation was made by Rebecca Lightsey, Co-Executive Director of American Gateways. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7. Discussion of welcoming new commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Chair Ortega welcomed new Commissioner Edwin to the Commission. Commissioner Edwin introduced himself and his work in the community. 8. Discussion of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs’ Draft Budget Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The Chair discussed the March 31st deadline for budget recommendations. Asked for other Commissioners to join drafting budget recommendations for FY25-26. …
(COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) Meeting Minutes (29,MARCH, 2025) COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES 29, MARCH, 2025 The COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS convened in a SPECIAL CALLED meeting on 29, MARCH, 2025, at CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER ROOMS #1401 & 1402 in Austin, Texas. Chair MELISSA ORTEGA called the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS Meeting to order at 9:48 a.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Miriam Dorantes, Adrian De La Rosa, Azeem Edwin, Aditi Joshi, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Aditi Joshi, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo, Miriam Dorantes, Adrian De La Rosa, Azeem Edwin DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1. Approve FY 2025-26 Budget Recommendation to develop a City of Austin Immigrant Affairs Office. The motion to approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to develop a City of Austin Immigrant Affairs Office was approved on COMMISSIONER DORANTES’s motion and COMMISSIONER EDWIN’S second on a (7-0) vote. (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the dais or absent) 2. Approve FY 2025-26 Budget Recommendation to Expand the Equity Mini Grant Funds to $600,000 in support of Immigrant Inclusion, Solidarity with Unhoused People, and Anti- displacement Prevention Efforts. The motion to approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to Expand the Equity Mini Grant Funds to $600,000 in support of Immigrant Inclusion, Solidarity with Unhoused People, and Anti-displacement Prevention Efforts was approved on COMMISISONER (7-0) vote. EDWIN’S motion and COMMISSIONER JOSHI’S second on a (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the dais or absent) 3. Approve the FY 2025-26 Budget Recommendation to Maintain and Expand the Annual Contracts into a Five-Year Term for Austin Public Health Immigrant Legal Services. Tabled for April meeting. (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the dais or absent) 1 (COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) Meeting Minutes (29,MARCH, 2025) 4. Approve FY 2025-26 Budget Recommendation to Expand Equity and Inclusion Trainings. The motion to approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to Expand Equity and Inclusion Trainings was and COMMISSIONER JOSHI’S second on a (7-0) vote. (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the dais or absent) on COMMISSIONER SAUCEDO’S motion approved 5. Approve the FY 2025-26 Budget Recommendation to Support Supplies for Strengthening Protections and Rights of Immigrant Students. The motion to approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to Support Supplies for Strengthening Protections and Rights of Immigrant Students was approved on COMMISSIONER DORANTES’S motion and COMMISSIONER JOSHI’S second on a (7-0) vote. (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the …
(COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) MEETING MINUTES (15, MARCH, 2025) COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES 15, MARCH, 2025 The COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS convened in a SPECIAL CALLED meeting on 15, MARCH, 2025, at PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER ROOMS #1401 & 1402, 6310 WILHELMINA DRIVE in Austin, Texas. Chair MELISSA ORTEGA called the COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS Meeting to order at 11:16 a.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Miriam Dorantes, Adrian De La Rosa Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Adrian De La Rosa, Azeem Edwin, Jeanne Canan Kaba, Yohana Saucedo DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1. Approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to develop a City of Austin Immigrant Affairs Office. The motion to approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to develop a City of Austin Immigrant Affairs Office was approved on a (7-0) vote. (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the dais or absent). There were no 1st or 2nd motions to approve. 2. Approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to Expand the Equity Mini Grant Funds to $600,000 in support of Immigrant Inclusion, Solidarity with Unhoused People, and for Anti-displacement Prevention Efforts. The motion to approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to Expand the Equity Mini Grant Funds to $600,000 in support of Immigrant Inclusion, Solidarity with Unhoused People, and for Anti-displacement Prevention Efforts was approved on a (7-0) vote. (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the dais or absent) There were no 1st or 2nd motions to approve. 3. Approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to increase funding for The Family Stabilization Grant Program to $3 Million and to retain its funding as part of the City’s base budget. 1 (COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS) MEETING MINUTES (15, MARCH, 2025) The motion to approve FY26 Budget Recommendation to increase funding for The Family Stabilization Grant Program to $3 Million and to retain its funding as part of the City’s base budget was approved on a (7-0) vote. (COMMISSIONERS KEVIN COUNTIE, SHWETA PADMANABHA, off the dais or absent) There were no 1st or 2nd motions to approve. Chair ORTEGA adjourned the meeting at 11:26 a.m. without objection. 2
