SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, 6:00 PM AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING 4815 MUELLER BLVD SHUDDE FATH HALL 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: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Diane Kanawati Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Adrian De La Rosa Melissa Ortega Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi Yohana Saucedo Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Caroline Solis 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 August 4, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs Manager and DACA Liaison Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion regarding the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s Welcoming Week and Citizenship Clinic Updates. 3. Staff briefing from David Alcorta, Paraprofessional, Communications and Public Information Office (CPIO) and Houmma Garba, Community Engagement Consultant, CPIO regarding CPIO’s and Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s (HSEM) new emergency language access plan. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Update regarding the August JIC meeting budget priorities and recommendations to council as they relate to immigrants in Austin. 5. Discussion regarding a drafted Recommendation to Council to revamp the Community Liaison Office. 6. Discussion regarding the draft letter to the LGBTQ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission regarding the priorities of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Creation of a meeting schedule for the Budget Working Group for the 2025-2026 Budget Year. (Workgroup Members: Chair Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair Alondra Johnson, Commissioners Melissa Ortega and Diane Kanawati) 8. Creation of a meeting schedule for the Quality of Life Working Group for the 2025-2026 Budget Year. (Workgroup Members: Vice Chair Alondra Johnson, Commissioners Canan Kaba, Aditi Joshi, Melissa Ortega, Meghana Roy) 9. Creation of a meeting schedule for the U-Visa, T-Visa Working Group …
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 10, 2025, 6:00 PM AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING 4815 MUELLER BLVD SHUDDE FATH HALL 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: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Diane Kanawati Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Adrian De La Rosa Melissa Ortega Azeem Edwin Aditi Joshi Yohana Saucedo Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Caroline Solis Meghana Roy AGENDA REVISED 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 August 4, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing by Rocio Villalobos, Immigrant Affairs Manager and DACA Liaison Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion regarding the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s Welcoming Week and Citizenship Clinic Updates. 3. Staff briefing from David Alcorta, Paraprofessional, Communications and Public Information Office (CPIO) and Houmma Garba, Community Engagement Consultant, CPIO regarding CPIO’s and Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s (HSEM) new emergency language access plan. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Update regarding the August JIC meeting budget priorities and recommendations to council as they relate to immigrants in Austin. 5. Discussion regarding a drafted Recommendation to Council to revamp the Community Liaison Office. 6. Discussion regarding the draft letter to the LGBTQ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission regarding the priorities of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 contact Nekaybaw Watson, Office of (512) 974-2562 or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. …
Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes August 4, 2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, August 4, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, August 4, 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 6:35 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Chair Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair Adrian De La Rosa Alondra Johnson Diane Kanawati Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Aditi Joshi Meghna Roy Yohanna Saucedo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigration Affairs regular meeting on July 7, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of July 7, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Kanawati’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kaba, and Lincoln-Goldfinch were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding revisions to Austin Police Department’s U-Visa Policy by Lieutenant Robert Smith, Special Victims Bureau, Austin Police Department and Assistant Chief Angie Jones, Austin Police Department. 1 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes August 4, 2025 Staff briefing was made by Lieutenant Robert Smith, Special Victims Bureau, Austin Police Department and Assistant Chief Angie Jones, Austin Police Department. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Discussion regarding the Travis County Commissioner’s Court vacancy. This item was taken up with item 14. Update on the most recent Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting held in July 2025, as it relates to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Discussed. Update regarding the discussion during the July LGBTQ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission Meeting about Immigrant Affairs. Discussed. Discussion regarding the written update on the Naturalization Informational Sessions and Clinics provided by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion. Discussed. 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. Discussed. Discussion regarding the new structure for requesting updates from the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. 10. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the staffing support of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. The motion to approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the staffing support of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs was approved on Commissioner Johnson’s motion, Vice Chair Dorantes’ second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Joshi, Kaba, and Lincoln-Goldfinch were absent. Approve the election of …
Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies Houmma Garba - CPIO David Alcorta – HSEM September 2nd, 2025 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Background The City Auditor conducted two audits: one in 2016 and another in 2021, involving language access services provided by the City, which culminated in a special report and staff response. The audits found that the City may not be meeting the needs of all non-English speaking Austinites because written policies did not align with actual practice. Additionally, the Auditor found that the City did not effectively communicate with community members before and during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, especially in language other than English. Because of this, limited English proficiency (LEP) Austinites may not have had the same access to important information and may have been disproportionately impacted. Austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/auditor/audit_reports/language_access_follow_up_may_2023.pdf September 2nd, 2025 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Language Access Translation: The conversion of written communication from one language to another in a written form. An accurate translation is one that conveys the intent and essential meaning of the original text. Interpretation: Definitions The oral rendition of a spoken message from one language to another, preserving the intent and meaning of the original message. Threshold Language: The most common spoken languages in Austin other than English. Based on this data, and data on the percentage of people who identify as not speaking English “very well” is how HSEM determined the languages to provide translation and interpretation for. September 2nd, 2025 Language Access Plan for Citywide Emergencies: Limited English Proficiency September 2nd, 2025 What does Limited English Proficiency mean? Limited English Proficiency (LEP) A person with limited English proficiency (LEP) cannot speak, read, write or understand the English language at a level that permits him or her to interact effectively with City staff. Individuals who communicate with American Sign Language are covered in this definition, although other Federal laws and regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act apply and should be considered separately. Hello! ¡Hola! 你好！ 안녕하세요! Xin chào! नमस्ते! မင်္ဂလာပါ! Collaborative Partners • Communiations and Public Information Office • Homeland Security & Emergency Management • Ausitn Energy • Austin Water • Austin Public Health • And review by numerous community organizations. In 2022, CPIO, HSEM and a collaboration of the City’s departmental Language Access team members established an Emergency Language Access working group. September 2nd, 2025 The Working Group planning activities included: • Gathering LEP …
