REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026, AT 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, 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, 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 Caroline Solis AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Azeem Edwin Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo 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 April 6, 2026. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing from Austin Police Victim Services Unit regarding the services they provide specifically to their immigrant community. Presentation by Kachina Clark, Victim Services and Employee Wellness Division Manager, Tracy Morris, Victim Services Manager, and Stephanie Gonzales, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update from Quality-of-Life Study Working Group regarding study timeline and progress made. (Commissioners: Johnson, Ortega, Joshi, Kaba, Kanawati, Edwin) 4. Discussion on future priorities and goals of the commission. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a letter of support from the Commission on Immigrant Affairs for funding and staffing support for Academia Cuauhtli. 6. Create a Budget Working Group to track the FY 2026—2027 approved recommendations of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. 7. Discussion to review and revise the scope and priorities of the U-Visa, T-Visa Working Group. (Commissioners: Dorantes, Johnson, De La Rosa, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Saucedo, 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 Nekaybaw Watson at Austin …
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2026 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 310 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Dorantes called the meeting to order at 6:44pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Caroline Solis Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Aditi Joshi Diane Kanawati Meghna Roy Melissa Ortega Commissioners Absent: Azeem Edwin Jeanne Kaba Yohana Saucedo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Special Called Meeting on March 20, 2026. The minutes of the March 20, 2026, special called meeting of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs were approved during the regular meeting on April 6, 2026, on Vice Chair Johnson’s motion, Chair Dorantes’ second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Ortega was off the dais. Commissioners Edwin, Kaba, and Saucedo were absent. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing from Austin Police regarding an updated policy as it relates to immigration. Presentation given by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. Presentation given by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. 3. 4. Staff briefing from Austin Equity and Inclusion regarding the introduction of the Acting Immigration Manager and future recruitment and updates surrounding immigrant and refugee related work. Presentation given by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Houmma Garba, Acting Immigration Manager, Austin Equity and Inclusion. Presentation given by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Houmma Garba, Acting Immigration Manager, Austin Equity and Inclusion. Staff briefing regarding updates to the Levers of Economic Mobility. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion. Presentation given by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., Austin Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Presentation from Academia Cuauhtli regarding a program update, information on their spring and summer programming, and shifting funding structures. Presentation by Dr. María Del Carmen Unda, Founder, Academia Cuauhtli, Dr. Angela Valenzuela, Acedemia Cuauhtli, and Dr. Emilio Zamora, Academia Cuauhtli. Presentation given by Dr. María Del Carmen Unda, Founder, Academia Cuauhtli. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve the election of Vice Chair. The motion to elect Commissioner Johnson as Vice Chair of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs was approved on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner De La Rosa’s second on …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20260504-005 Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion WHEREAS, since its founding in 2013, Academia Cuauhtli (founded by Nuestro Grupo, a community-based volunteer organization) was established at the ESB-MACC as a free Saturday culture and language revitalization academy for elementary school children and their parents, with a curriculum focused on Indigeneity, social justice, Tejano history, traditional arts, and danza Mexica and since July 2014, Academia Cuauhtli has served as an official educational enterprise partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center (ESB-MACC); WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli, administered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District (AISD), and Nuestro Grupo embraces and fulfills the Commission on Immigrant Affairs mission of collaborative engagement by advocating for educational equity and well-being for immigrant, first-generation, and low socioeconomic background AISD students in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin; WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission expressed as “to honor our communities' cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities in pursuit of educational freedom” by serving as a means for the comprehensive advancement of the students and their parents—via its strong partnership with students’ parents—by providing a supportive and uplifting learning environment, as well as for providing for the social, and economic needs, including the extensive COVID-related assistance extended to its participant Latino families during the pandemic in Austin, Texas; WHEREAS, Academia Cuauthli fulfills its mission by enrolling from 2014-2023 over 800 AISD emergent bilingual students, trained over 250 Indigenous/Latinx public school teachers, hosted over 25 professional development workshops, initiated Cuauhtli’s Grow Your Own bilingual leadership development program for AISD teachers of color, and successfully implemented a research-university-community partnership between AISD, UT Austin’s College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy faculty and graduate student researchers, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS), the UT History Department, and the Austin community (see research publication link: https://academiacuauhtli.com/publications/); WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission in collaboration with the City of Austin when former Mayor Adler and the 2022 City of Austin Council Members granted Academia Cuauthli a dedicated, full-time employee to manage all educational programming with funding running through the Austin Parks and Recreation Department at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, together with generous support to fund Academia Cuauhtli throughout 2022-23; WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli …
APD Victim Services Serving our Immigrant Communities Austin Police Department | May 4, 2026 APD Victim Services Unit Overview • One of the largest Victim Services programs within a U.S. police department. • Services are available to victims/survivors whether they choose to report the crime or not, by calling 512-974-5037. • Staff do not inquire about immigration status; if disclosed, targeted resources and referrals are provided. • Supervisors and counselors teach at the APD Training Academy. • Active members of several coalitions and groups across Austin whose goals include enhancing services to all victims/survivors of crime. 2 Overview of Victim Services Teams Crisis Response Team Investigation Response Team • Supports the Austin community 24/7 • Supports and advocates for victims after a • Provides on-scene crisis counseling • Counselors are dispatched with officers • Addresses immediate needs • Provides advocacy within law enforcement • Assists with safety planning • Shares resources and referrals crime has occurred • Counselors are co-located with unit detectives • Provides support throughout the investigation and beyond • Offers trauma-informed, short-term counseling • Provides education on Criminal Justice System 3 Reporting Options and Confidentiality • Can call the Victim Services line (512-974-5037) with no current police report on file. • Limits of confidentiality when police report has been made (Michael Morton Act). • Victim Services support provided when reporting a crime. • Collaboration and referral to trusted community organizations external to APD. 4 Contact Information • Victim Services direct line: 512-974-5037 • Victim Services email: Victim.Services@austintexas.gov • For general questions regarding immigration: APDImmigrationInfo@austintexas.gov • For submitting a U visa Certification request: APDUvisaCertification@austintexas.gov • Victim Services website: www.austintexas.gov/police/divisions/victim-services 5
Recommendation Number: (add number) Resolution from the Commission Immigrant Affairs in Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion April 15, 2026 WHEREAS, since its founding in 2013, Academia Cuauhtli (founded by Nuestro Grupo, a community-based volunteer organization) was established at the ESB-MACC as a free Saturday culture and language revitalization academy for elementary school children and their parents, with a curriculum focused on Indigeneity, social justice, Tejano history, traditional arts, and danza Mexica and since July 2014, Academia Cuauhtli has served as an official educational enterprise partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center (ESB-MACC); WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli, administered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District (AISD), and Nuestro Grupo embraces and fulfills the Commission on Immigrant Affairs mission of collaborative engagement by advocating for educational equity and well-being for immigrant, first-generation, and low socioeconomic background AISD students in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin; WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission expressed as “to honor our communities' cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities in pursuit of educational freedom” by serving as a means for the comprehensive advancement of the students and their parents—via its strong partnership with students’ parents—by providing a supportive and uplifting learning environment, as well as for providing for the social, and economic needs, including the extensive COVID-related assistance extended to its participant Latino families during the pandemic in Austin, Texas; WHEREAS, Academia Cuauthli fulfills its mission by enrolling from 2014-2023 over 800 AISD emergent bilingual students, trained over 250 Indigenous/Latinx public school teachers, hosted over 25 professional development workshops, initiated Cuauhtli’s Grow Your Own bilingual leadership development program for AISD teachers of color, and successfully implemented a research-university-community partnership between AISD, UT Austin’s College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy faculty and graduate student researchers, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS), the UT History Department, and the Austin community (see research publication link: https://academiacuauhtli.com/publications/); WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission in collaboration with the City of Austin when former Mayor Adler and the 2022 City of Austin Council Members granted Academia Cuauthli a dedicated, full-time employee to manage all educational programming with funding running through the Austin Parks and Recreation Department at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, together with generous support to fund Academia Cuauhtli throughout …
