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
