REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, 2025, AT 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2nd ST 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 Nekaybaw Watson, 512-974-2562, nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Diane Kanawati Melissa Ortega Yohana Saucedo AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Alondra Johnson, Vice Chair Azeem Edwin Jeanna “Canan” Kaba Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Meghana Roy The first ten speakers signed up prior 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 October 6, 2025. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 2. Update from the Quality-of-Life Study working Group regarding the current progress of the study and current parameters. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Discussion regarding the Quality-of-Life Study parameters and feedback on the study priorities. Discussion regarding rent relief initiatives for people impacted by displacement and deportation. Discussion regarding presentations at the October Joint Inclusion Committee meeting from Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations and Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Approve an update to the membership of the Quality-of-Life Study Working Group. (Current members: Vice Chair Alondra Johnson, Commissioners: Melissa Ortega, Aditi Joshi, Jeanna C Kaba; Diane Kanawati, Meghana Roy, Community Stakeholders: Karen Crawford, Krystal Gomez, Oscar Ponce, Kirk Yoshida) Approve an update to the membership of the Budget working Group. (Current members: Chair Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair Alondra Johnson, Commissioners Diane Kanawati, and Melissa Ortega.) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email …
Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes October 6, 2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, October 6, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room 1101, 301 W Second Street, Austin TX. Vice Chair Johnson called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Alondra Johnson, Vice Chair Adrian De La Rosa Azeem Edwin Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Aditi Joshi Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Diane Kanawati Melissa Ortega Meghana Roy Yohana Saucedo Commissioners Absent: Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigration Affairs special called meeting on September 10, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of September 10, 2025, were approved on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Ortega and Roy were off the dais. Commissioner Lincoln-Goldfinch was absent. 1 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes October 6, 2025 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing from Houmma Garba, Language Access and Community Engagement Consultant, Communications and Public Information Office, regarding the new City of Autin Boards and Commissions language access guidance. The briefing was provided by Houmma Garba, Language Access and Community Engagement Consultant, Communications and Public Information Office. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Update regarding the Community Liaison Officer Revamp Recommendation. Discussed. Update regarding recent JIC meeting including discussion on public information sessions, about budget priorities, and digital access programs. Discussed. Discussion regarding rent relief initiatives for people impacted by displacement and deportation. Chair Dorantes moves to postpone discussion until next meeting without objection. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Discussion and approval of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs priorities regarding needs of the LGBTQ2IA+ Immigrant Community. The motion to approve the Commission on Immigrant Affairs priorities of the needs of the LGBTQ2IA+ Immigrant community was approved as amended on Commissioner Kanawati’s motion, Chair Dorantes’ second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Lincoln- Goldfinch was absent. The amendments were as follows: Insert “have” in the third line of the 1st paragraph between “may” and “fled”. Insert an “s” after “commission” in the last paragraph first sentence. Insert “a” after “have” and before “unique” in the last paragraph first sentence. Strike all instances of “LGBTQUIA+” “LGBTQIA+” and insert “LGBTQ+” Discussion and approval of the 2026 Annual Commission on Immigrant Affairs …
