Revised Language for Draft Recommendation Item 9 — original pdf

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. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20260320-009: RESTORE Funding to Support American Gateways’ Immigrant Legal Services WHEREAS, Austin, like the rest of the United States, has experienced a significant increase in immigration enforcement within the community, with neighbors being detained at record levels and federal funding for pro se immigration legal assistance significantly reduced; and WHEREAS, noncitizens are increasingly being detained at routine immigration court hearings and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services interviews at unprecedented levels, creating heightened fear and instability within immigrant communities; and WHEREAS, in South Central Texas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 12,000 individuals during the first nine months of the Trump Administration, nearly double the previous year, including within the San Antonio field office jurisdiction, which encompasses Austin, illustrating the broader impact of intensified enforcement policies; and WHEREAS, one in three children in Austin has at least one immigrant parent, and 87 percent of those children are United States citizens, placing a substantial number of families at risk of permanent separation and long term economic and emotional harm; and WHEREAS, immigrant led households in Austin contributed significantly to the local economy, earning approximately 234.3 billion dollars in 2023 and contributing 19.3 billion dollars in combined state and local taxes, underscoring the critical role immigrant communities play in the city’s economic stability and growth; and WHEREAS, reductions in federal funding have resulted in substantial cuts to immigration legal services budgets, leading to layoffs at local nonprofit organizations, reduced legal representation, and increased reliance on unlicensed practitioners, often referred to as notarios, which places vulnerable individuals at risk of fraud and negatively impacts their ability to secure lawful status; and WHEREAS, access to competent and affordable immigration legal services is essential to ensuring due process, protecting family unity, and promoting community stability; and WHEREAS, local organizations such as American Gateways play a vital role in providing these services to low income immigrant communities in Austin and Travis County and Williamson County , yet recent budget reductions have limited their capacity to meet growing demand. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commission on Immigrant Affairs recommends that the Austin City Council maintain and strengthen its investment in immigration legal services by restoring the recent 10 percent budget reduction to American Gateways Immigration Legal Services program; and . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Commission strongly urges the City Council to prioritize the restoration of these funds so that critical legal services can continue to reach low-income immigrant communities across Austin and Travis County and Williamson County, ensuring access to justice, family stability, and community well-being. Date of Approval: Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Seconded By: . Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: