SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR. AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Human Rights Commission 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, call or email Ryan Sperling at ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov or 512-974-3568 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Kolby Duhon, Chair (He/They) Muneeb “Meebs” Aslam (He/Him) Melinda Avitia Harriett Kirsh Pozen Maryam Khawar Gabriella Zeidan, Vice Chair Danielle Bryant Morgan Davis (He/Him) Mariana Krueger (She/Her) Tannya Oliva Martínez AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 Human Rights Commission regular meeting on November 24, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. 3. Approve the formation of a working group to provide budget recommendations for the City of Austin FY2026-27 budget. Approve a recommendation to City Council regarding Austin Police Department’s involvement with United States Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from the Human Rights Resource Guide Working Group regarding progress on the working group goals. 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 Ryan Sperling at Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-3568 or ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Human Rights Commission, please contact Ryan Sperling at 512-974- 3568 or ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number (20260202-003): Recommendation to City Council regarding Austin Police Department’s involvement with United States Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE): WHEREAS, The Human Rights Commission advises the City of Austin on policies that protect civil rights, prevent discrimination, and promote fair and equitable treatment of all Austinites; and WHEREAS, public safety depends on trust between the community and local law enforcement, especially for victims who must feel safe calling 911 and reporting crimes; and WHEREAS, civil immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), not our local police departments; and WHEREAS, when local law enforcement become involved in civil immigration matters, community members are less likely to seek help or report crimes due to fear; and WHEREAS, in January 2026, the Austin Police Department (APD) transferred a mother and her young child to ICE after responding to a disturbance call, raising widespread public concern about APD policies and practices; and WHEREAS, APD leadership has expressed that department policies related to ICE contact are under review; and WHEREAS, City legal guidance has acknowledged that Texas law under Senate Bill 4 limits the City’s ability to prohibit all cooperation with federal immigration authorities, but it does not require cities to expand local policing into civil immigration enforcement; and WHEREAS, Mayor Pro Tem Vela has stated that while a blanket prohibition on ICE contact is restricted by state law, the City retains discretion to adopt certain policies that prioritize public safety and community trust; and WHEREAS, such policies could include clear guidance which ensures that ICE notifications occur rarely, require supervisory approval, and be limited to cases involving serious or violent offenses; and WHEREAS, publicly available information shows that APD has contacted ICE numerous times in recent years based on administrative immigration warrants, raising concerns about consistency, transparency, and impacts on community trust; and WHEREAS, residents across Austin and Texas have expressed significant concern about the actions of ICE on civil liberties, including through public demonstrations and walkouts; and WHEREAS, research has shown that increased partnership between local police and federal immigration enforcement is associated with reduced crime reporting, weakened police– community relationships, and negative public safety outcomes; and WHEREAS, local government has a responsibility to protect civil liberties, maintain public trust, and act in the best interests of the people it serves; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That the …
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, November 24, 2025 The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 301 W. 2nd St., Boards & Commissions Room, in Austin, Texas. Chair Duhon called the Human Rights Commission meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Kolby Duhon Maryam Khawar Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Muneeb “Meebs” Aslam Danielle Bryant Morgan Davis Harriett Kirsh Pozen Tannya Oliva Martinez PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on October 20, 2025. The minutes of the October 20, 2025 meeting were approved without objection on Commissioner Kirsh Pozen’s motion. Commissioner Bryant was off the dais. Commissioners Morgan Avitia, Krueger, and Zeidan were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Briefing regarding Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations’ current homelessness response efforts and key metrics. Briefing by David Gray, Director, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. The presentation was made by David Gray, Director, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. 1 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and possible action to amend the 2025 Annual Schedule to remove the December 2025 meeting. The 2025 Annual Schedule was amended to remove the December meeting on Commissioner Bryant’s motion, Commissioner Kirsh Pozen’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Morgan Avitia, Krueger, and Zeidan were absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from the Human Rights Resource Guide Working Group regarding the status of the resource guide. Update by Commissioner Bryant. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Update working group membership – Duhon, Bryant Discussion on children in foster care and the pipeline – Aslam, Davis Human Rights Resource Guide Working Group Update – Bryant, Duhon ADJOURNMENT Chair Duhon adjourned the meeting without objection at 6:58 p.m. 2
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number (20260202-01) Recommendation to City Council regarding Austin Police Department’s involvement with United States Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE): WHEREAS, The Human Rights Commission advises the City of Austin on policies that protect civil rights, prevent discrimination, and promote fair and equitable treatment of all Austinites; and WHEREAS, public safety depends on trust between the community and local law enforcement, especially for victims who must feel safe calling 911 and reporting crimes; and WHEREAS, civil immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), not our local police departments; and WHEREAS, when local law enforcement become involved in civil immigration matters, community members are less likely to seek help or report crimes due to fear; and WHEREAS, in January 2026, the Austin Police Department (APD) transferred a mother and her young child to ICE after responding to a disturbance call, raising widespread public concern about APD policies and practices; and WHEREAS, APD leadership has expressed that department policies related to ICE contact are under review; and WHEREAS, City legal guidance has acknowledged that Texas law under Senate Bill 4 limits the City’s ability to prohibit all cooperation with federal immigration authorities, but it does not require cities to expand local policing into civil immigration enforcement; and WHEREAS, Mayor Pro Tem Vela has stated that while a blanket prohibition on ICE contact is restricted by state law, the City retains discretion to adopt certain policies that prioritize public safety and community trust; and WHEREAS, such policies could include clear guidance which ensures that ICE notifications occur rarely, require supervisory approval, and be limited to cases involving serious or violent offenses; and WHEREAS, publicly available information shows that APD has contacted ICE numerous times in recent years based on administrative immigration warrants, raising concerns about consistency, transparency, and impacts on community trust; and WHEREAS, residents across Austin and Texas have expressed significant concern about the actions of ICE on civil liberties, including through public demonstrations and walkouts; and WHEREAS, research has shown that increased partnership between local police and federal immigration enforcement is associated with reduced crime reporting, weakened police–community relationships, and negative public safety outcomes; and WHEREAS, local government has a responsibility to protect civil liberties, maintain public trust, and act in the best interests of the people it serves; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That the Human …
