Item 1: Draft Minutes for 3.20.26 — original pdf

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COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2026 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a special called meeting on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Dorantes called the meeting to order at 6:34pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Canan Kaba Melissa Ortega Meghna Roy Yohana Saucedo Commissioners Absent: Azeem Edwin Diane Kanawati Caroline Solis PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting on March 2, 2026. The minutes of the March 2, 2026, regular meeting of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs were approved during the special called meeting on March 20, 2026, on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Discussion and update regarding the Social Services Framework presented at the last JIC meeting. Withdrawn. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve a Recommendation to Council to expand and strengthen prevention programs to protect housing stability. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council to expand and strengthen eviction prevention programs to protect housing stability as amended was approved on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to approve the amendment to insert “Williamson County, and other surrounding counties” after every mention of “Travis County” was approved on Commissioner Roy’s motion, Chair Dorantes’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to approve the amendment to insert “alternatives that may reduce and delay eviction where permitted, including extending applicable deadlines, prioritizing mediation, and providing enhanced notice requirements consistent with governing law and local policy,” and strike “mechanisms to extend eviction timelines, including pre- filing mediation requirements, enhanced notice periods, and eviction diversion coordination.” after, “Direct the City Manager to evaluate lawful” was approved on Commissioner Saucedo’s motion, Chair Dorantes’ second. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. 4. Approve a Recommendation to Council to establish a dedicated funding framework for a universal immigration representation model. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council to establish a dedicated funding framework for a universal immigration representation model was approved as amended on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to strike “slashed or fully cut” and insert “ decreased or eliminated” after “WHEREAS, The decrease in federal funding has resulted in immigration legal services budgets to be” was approved on Vice Chair Johnson’s motion, Chair Dorantes’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to strike “unlicensed” and insert “ “notarios” or other entities who are engaging in unauthorized practice of law” in the fifth paragraph of the amendment was 2 approved on Commissioner Joshi’s motion, Commissioner Kaba’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to insert “Austin City Council”, “access to” and “and ensure that immigrant residents have meaningful access to legal representation” to the last paragraph of the recommendation was approved on Commissioner De La Rosa’s motion, Chair Dorantes’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. Approve a Recommendation to Council to prioritize filling the Immigrant Affairs Manager position to strengthen city coordination and leadership. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council to prioritize filling the Immigrant Affairs Manager position to strengthen city coordination and leadership as amended was approved on Chair Dorantes’ motion, and Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to strike “stronger educated” and insert “engaged and informed” in the first paragraph of the recommendation was approved on Commissioner Kaba’s motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to separate item four into a fifth item inserting “Participate in opportunities to connect people with resources and assistance regarding information for citizenship or other legal statuses” and striking “toward citizenship for those eligible to apply” was approved on Commissioner Saucedo’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. Approve a Recommendation to Council to fund comprehensive equity and inclusion trainings across city departments. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council to fund comprehensive equity and inclusion training across city departments was approved as amended on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to strike “citizens” and insert “and community members” in the fourth paragraph of the recommendation was approved on Commissioners Kaba’s motion, Commissioner Roy’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. Approve a Recommendation to Council to re-instate and fund the Family Stabilization Grant. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council to re-instate and fund the Family Stabilization Grant was approved on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. Approve a Recommendation to Council to maintain and increase funding support for American Gateway’s Immigrant Legal Services to ensure ongoing community access to representation. The motion to approve a recommendation to Council to restore funding to support American Gateways’ Immigrant Legal Services was approved as amended on 5. 6. 7. 8. 3 Commissioner Joshi’s motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to strike “maintain” and insert “restore” in the recommendation’s title was approved on Commissioner De La Rosa’s motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to insert “and Williamson County” after “Austin and Travis County” was approved on Commissioner Roy’s motion, Commissioner Saucedo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. 9. Approve a statement of concern regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The motion to approve a statement of concern regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement was approved as amended on Chair Dorantes’ motion, Commissioner Ortega’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. The motion to strike “allegedly” from the first paragraph of the statement was approved on Vice Chair Johnson’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kanawati, and Solis were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Invite the current interim Immigrant Affairs Manager to the briefing in April. Invite APD to the April meeting to discuss what their current policy is as it relates to ICE. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 pm on Vice Chair Johnson’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second without objection. 4