REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS AUGUST 4, 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 Nekaybaw Watson at nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2562. 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 July 7, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding revisions to Austin Police Department’s U-Visa Policy by Lieutenant Robert Smith, Special Victims Bureau, Austin Police Department. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion regarding the Travis County Commissioner’s Court vacancy. 4. Update on the most recent Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meetings held in July 2025, as they relate to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. 5. Update regarding the discussion during the July LGBTQ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission Meeting about Immigrant Affairs. 6. Discussion regarding the written update on the Naturalization Informational Sessions and Clinics provided by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion. 7. Discussion regarding the written update on the Immigrant Quality-of-Life Study provided by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. 8. Discussion regarding the new structure for requesting updates from the Office of Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the staffing support of the Commission for Immigrant Affairs. 10. Approve the election of Chair. 11. Approve the election of Vice Chair. 12. Approve the appointment of Joint Inclusion Committee primary representative and alternate representative. 13. Approve the creation of a Working Group that prepares statements for commissioners to use when representing the …
Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes July 7, 2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, July 7, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Austin City Hall, W 3rd St, Room 1101 in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Dorantes called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting to order at 6:39 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair Adrian De La Rosa Alondra Johnson Diane Kanawati Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Melissa Ortega, Chair Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Meghna Roy PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos Soto – Community Advancement Network Kathy Mitchell – General Budget Savannah Lee – Funding for community investment priorities APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigration Affairs regular meeting on June 2, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of June 2, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Johnson’s motion, Vice Chair Dorantes’ second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Saucedo was absent. 1 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes July 7, 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. Staff briefing was made by Jeremy Garza, Business Process Consultant and Amanda Jasso, Program Manager 1 – Equity Division, Office of Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Welcome new Commissioners to Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Discussed. Update on the most recent Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting held in June 2025, as it relates to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. 7. 8. Approve the 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review Report. The motion to approve the 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review Report was approved on Vice Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Kaba’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Saucedo was absent. 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). The motion to approve the addition of Commissioners Kanawati and Roy to the Quality-of-Life Working Group was approved on Chair Ortega’s motion, Vice Chair Dorantes’ second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Saucedo was absent. Approve updates to the membership of the Budget Working Group. (Working Group Members: …
Dear Travis County Commissioners Court and County Judge, I am writing to you today in my capacity as [Commissioner/member of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs] to respectfully urge your support in filling the Travis County appointment seat, which has been vacant for over two years. On behalf of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the Court's previous actions, particularly your resolution calling for the constitutional and humane treatment of immigrants in the custody of U.S. law enforcement agencies, as well as your commitment to the Constitution, due process, and the protection of habeas corpus. This resolution holds profound significance for our immigrant community, especially in the current moment, and we deeply appreciate your continued leadership in advocating for justice. The Commission on Immigrant Affairs highly values the Travis County seat. However, the prolonged vacancy in this position has created substantial challenges in our ability to meet and perform our duties. In 2024, the Commission was unable to convene for six consecutive months due to the lack of sufficient members, with just one member short of the quorum required after the addition of the Travis County appointment. This absence has at times, hindered our capacity to serve the immigrant population in Austin. The immigrant community in our city is facing an increasingly hostile political climate, both at the state and federal levels. With policies that disproportionately target immigrants and refugees, it is more critical than ever that the Commission operates at full capacity. The need for a full Commission is urgent to ensure that we can effectively advocate for and support this vulnerable population. Therefore, we respectfully ask the Court to fill the Travis County vacancy as soon as possible, at the latest, to start the process by August 31. The immigrant community in Austin relies on the Commission’s work to protect their rights, ensure their voices are heard, and address the unique challenges they face. Thank you for your time and your continued leadership. We remain grateful for your dedication to our shared values of justice, fairness, and compassion. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Position] [Your Contact Information]
U Visa Program Updates Lieutenant Robert Smith | Austin Police Department | August 4, 2025 History of the Program The U Visa program was created by Congress in 2000 with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. The program aims to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute serious and violent crimes, and to protect victims of these crimes through enhanced collaboration with immigrant communities. The program offers temporary legal status to noncitizen victims of certain qualifying crimes who are willing to cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes. 2 APD’s Role in the Program Applications for U Visa status require the submission of a certification form from a federal, state, tribal or local law enforcement agency, prosecutor, or judge. While APD helps facilitate certifications through this program, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) ultimately determines whether an individual qualifies for a U Visa. 3 APD Policy Updates Following staffing changes made by Chief Davis, the Special Victims Investigations Bureau leadership identified ways to better clarify the U Visa application review process, particularly regarding the statute of limitations for reported crimes. Department policy (GO 607) and APD’s internal U Visa Committee Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have both been updated with clear language that aligns with federal program guidelines. APD staff will be trained on the updated policies and procedures. 4 Impact on U Visa Applicants In 2024: • 508 requests submitted • 4 rejected for expired statute of limitations In 2025: • 304 requests submitted (through July 17) • 10 rejected for expired statute of limitations 5 Next Steps Individuals who previously submitted petitions for U Visas under prior department policy and whose applications were rejected based on an expired statute of limitations have been encouraged to reapply. 6 Engaging the Community The Austin Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all individuals in our community, regardless of their background or immigration status. APD will continue to work with our community to foster trust through continued outreach, education, and collaborative partnerships. 7 Questions? ROBERT.SMITH@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
Introduction The Travis County Commissioners Court – the county’s five-member governing body – plays a key role in appointing individuals to various boards and commissions. These appointments include Travis County’s own boards and committees as well as seats on City of Austin boards and commissions that reserve positions for Travis County. The City of Austin’s Commission on Immigrant Affairs is one example: its bylaws stipulate that 11 members are appointed by the Austin City Council and one member is appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court[1]. However, that Travis County-appointed seat on the Immigrant Affairs commission has been vacant for over two years, highlighting the need to understand and engage in the county’s appointment process. Below is a comprehensive overview of how the Travis County Commissioners Court handles board and commission appointments, a list of all bodies where the Court has appointing authority (with emphasis on City of Austin commissions involving the County), the application process and timeline for appointments, and guidance for community members interested in these roles. Travis County’s Appointment Process: General Overview Two Appointment Methods: Travis County appointments fall into two broad categories – individual Commissioner nominations and the Uniform Appointment Process (UAP). In many cases, each of the five members of the Commissioners Court directly nominates a person to serve (for example, if a board requires one appointee per commissioner or per precinct). In other cases – especially for significant external boards or joint City/County commissions – the full Court uses a uniform, open process to select appointees from the community[2][3]. ● Individual Nominations: When a board has a number of seats equal to the number of Court members (or a multiple thereof), it is common for each County Commissioner (and the County Judge) to nominate a candidate. For instance, if there are five seats to fill, each of the five Court members may put forward one nominee. This ensures representation across all four precincts and the county at-large. (The Travis County Code notes that when the Court has five appointments to make, each Court member will nominate one; if there are more than five, nominations are divided equally among Court members)[2]. These nominations are then confirmed by a Commissioners Court vote. Examples of boards handled in this way include certain advisory committees or task forces – e.g. bond advisory committees – where each Commissioner appoints a constituent from their precinct. These appointments typically do not …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Commission on Immigrant Affairs FROM: Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Office of Equity & Inclusion DATE: July 25, 2025 SUBJECT: Update: Quality of Life Study for Immigrant, Refugee, and other Foreign-born Community Members This memo provides a brief update on the status of the study and a tentative timeline for next steps. As a reminder, when City contracts exceed $76,000, staff are required to seek City Council approval via a Recommendation for Council Action (RCA). The Austin Equity and Inclusion – Equity Division is pleased to report that the selected research team, the National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH), has signed the contract, and the RCA has been submitted for placement on the August 28th City Council meeting agenda. Once the RCA is approved by City Council and the contract is officially executed, Austin Equity and Inclusion will coordinate with NCFH to initiate project activities. At that time, we will distribute a Doodle poll to schedule the first Kick-Off Meeting with the Commission Workgroup, which we anticipate will take place in September. Additionally, Welcoming Week is scheduled for September 12–21, 2025. This presents a timely opportunity to align the launch of the Quality-of-Life Study with other key office initiatives, such as the Welcoming Certification Report. Members of the public—including Commissioners—can sign up for public comment at the August 28th Council meeting. If you wish to do so, please follow the City’s guidelines for registering to speak, which are available on the City Council Meeting Information Center. Thank you again for your continued support, dedication and collaboration on this important project. If you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at Lindsey.Wilson@austintexas.gov.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250804XXX: Recommendation Supporting Focused Staffing for Immigrant Affairs WHEREAS, we commend the establishment of the Human Rights Officer Division and the appointment of a dedicated officer overseeing Immigrant Affairs, Veteran Affairs, and ADA, all under the Office of Equity and Inclusion; and WHEREAS, it is important to acknowledge that the current scope of work for Austin remains too vast for a sole Immigrant Affairs Program Manager to focus on all the aspects of Immigrant Affairs; and WHEREAS, in Austin, more than 18% of the population are foreign-born1; and WHEREAS, Austin’s immigrant population comes from over 120 different countries2; and WHEREAS, according to City data at iSpeak Austin, more than 85 languages are spoken throughout the City, 31% of Austinites speak a language other than English at home and 11.4% of Austinites speak English “less than very well”3; and WHEREAS, the recommendation to establish an office with staff exclusively dedicated to immigrant Affairs, is supported by multiple reports, including “Advancing Immigrant Incorporation in Austin, TX.”4 by the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, which found that an Immigrant Affairs Office is necessary and recommended its creation; and WHEREAS, presently, the Human Rights Officer is tasked with balancing multiple duties, which at times overlap and, at other times, diverge from immigrant affairs; and WHEREAS, there is only one position that is entirely focused on Immigrant Affairs, with the individual in this role being uniquely and solely able to be the best advisor on this account; and 1 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/austincitytexas 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=430901 3 https://www.austintexas.gov/iSpeakAustin 4 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=367457 WHEREAS, the current Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has served in this role for the past five years, during which they have built strong partnerships and collaborated with numerous nonprofit organizations as well as community members within the immigrant community; and WHEREAS, the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has been providing monthly briefings to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regarding their efforts within the immigrant community and should continue to do so; and WHEREAS, given the complexities of the current political climate, it is essential that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager receive additional, focused support dedicated entirely to their role and responsibilities; and WHEREAS, we strongly believe that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager should be present at every meeting related to immigrant affairs, alongside the Human Rights Officer, to ensure comprehensive and focused advocacy for immigrant …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250804-009: Recommendation Supporting Focused Staffing for Immigrant Affairs WHEREAS, we commend the establishment of the Human Rights Officer Division and the appointment of a dedicated officer overseeing Immigrant Affairs, Veteran Affairs, and ADA, all under the Office of Equity and Inclusion; and WHEREAS, it is important to acknowledge that the current scope of work for Austin remains too vast for a sole Immigrant Affairs Program Manager to focus on all the aspects of Immigrant Affairs; and WHEREAS, in Austin, more than 18% of the population are foreign-born1; and WHEREAS, Austin’s immigrant population comes from over 120 different countries2; and WHEREAS, according to City data at iSpeak Austin, more than 85 languages are spoken throughout the City, 31% of Austinites speak a language other than English at home and 11.4% of Austinites speak English “less than very well”3; and WHEREAS, the recommendation to establish an office with staff exclusively dedicated to immigrant Affairs, is supported by multiple reports, including “Advancing Immigrant Incorporation in Austin, TX.”4 by the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, which found that an Immigrant Affairs Office is necessary and recommended its creation; and WHEREAS, presently, the Human Rights Officer is tasked with balancing multiple duties, which at times overlap and, at other times, diverge from immigrant affairs; and WHEREAS, there is only one position that is entirely focused on Immigrant Affairs, with the individual in this role being uniquely and solely able to be the best advisor on this account; and 1 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/austincitytexas 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=430901 3 https://www.austintexas.gov/iSpeakAustin 4 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=367457 WHEREAS, the current Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has served in this role for the past five years, during which they have built strong partnerships and collaborated with numerous nonprofit organizations as well as community members within the immigrant community; and WHEREAS, the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has been providing monthly briefings to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regarding their efforts within the immigrant community and should continue to do so; and WHEREAS, given the complexities of the current political climate, it is essential that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager receive additional, focused support dedicated entirely to their role and responsibilities; and WHEREAS, we strongly believe that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager should be present at every meeting related to immigrant affairs, alongside the Human Rights Officer, to ensure comprehensive and focused advocacy for immigrant …
