A San Francisco for All: Immigrant Rights Commission report 2026

Our History

Founded in 1997, the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission (IRC) is one of the first commissions of its kind in the nation. Composed of 15 voting members, the IRC advises the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on policies that impact San Francisco’s immigrant residents and workers.

For over two decades, the IRC has met with community members and played a central role in helping to shape inclusive policies that make San Francisco a national leader in immigrant and language rights. Since 2009, the IRC has been staffed by its programmatic partner, the Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA).

Highlights from our history

Language Access Rights

In 2001, the IRC advocated for and secured the first version of the Language Access Ordinance to ensure equal access to City services for all San Franciscans, regardless of what language they spoke. With amendments made in 2009, 2015, and 2024, and oversight by OCEIA, San Francisco’s Language Access Ordinance remains one of the strongest in the nation. In 2021, the IRC held a two-part series of special hearings on the Language Access Ordinance, and OCEIA conducted an 11-language community survey of Limited English Proficient (LEP) community members, to inform the Board of Supervisors and City departments on how to improve language access in San Francisco. In 2023, Supervisor Walton proposed amendments to the Language Access Ordinance, and in 2024, the amendments were passed by the Board of Supervisors and signed by the Mayor.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

As Congress debated comprehensive immigration reform in 2009 and 2013, the IRC held a series of special hearings and policy discussions to learn how the proposed changes would impact community members. In 2013, the Commission published a report of its findings and policy recommendations. Almost all of the state and local recommendations were implemented. While comprehensive immigration reform remains a goal that only Congress can enact, the IRC continues its efforts to advance this goal with the hope of keeping families united and providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants.

Sanctuary City Ordinance

Since San Francisco’s Sanctuary Ordinance was enacted in 1989, the IRC has fought to strengthen laws that promote public trust and cooperation. In 2013, the IRC endorsed the Due Process for All Ordinance, which was amended in 2016. Together, these ordinances help keep San Franciscans safe by making sure that all residents feel comfortable calling the police in emergencies and accessing City services.

Inclusive City Commissions

The IRC was an early supporter of efforts to make City commissions truly inclusive of the people they represent and serve. The IRC supported the Board of Supervisors’ Charter Amendment to allow noncitizens to serve on City boards and commissions, which was approved by San Francisco voters in November 2020.

A Recovery for All

As the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted immigrants and communities of color, the IRC held a series of special hearings to ensure that San Francisco’s recovery encompassed all of its residents, including immigrants. In 2020, the IRC held a special hearing in partnership with the Economic Recovery Task Force, and developed policy recommendations that were incorporated in the Task Force’s report to the City. In 2021, the IRC held special hearings on immigrant inclusion in the COVID-19 recovery and immigrants’ ability to access the services they needed in their language during the pandemic.

Immigrant Parent Voting

The IRC has promoted the full civic engagement of all San Francisco residents, regardless of immigration status, including the right of noncitizen immigrant parents to vote in San Francisco School Board elections. This historic right was approved by voters in 2016 and reauthorized in 2021. When the ordinance was challenged in court in 2022, the IRC partnered with the Immigrant Parent Voting Collaborative in defense of parents’ right to have a say in their children’s education. The City and County of San Francisco defended Immigrant Parent Voting in court, and appealed the decision that revoked this right. In 2023, the California Court of Appeal upheld Immigrant Parent Voting in San Francisco. The decision allows noncitizen parents to continue to vote in San Francisco School Board elections.

The IRC today

In 2025, the new federal government took sweeping measures to dismantle and reshape the U.S. immigration system. This included efforts to terminate the lawful status of many immigrants living in the United States, close off lawful pathways for individuals to come here in the future, and increase efforts to detain and deport immigrants across the country.

This report covers the work of the IRC in 2025, as San Franciscans experienced the impacts of federal changes to immigration policy. Although San Francisco did not experience the kinds of raids that were carried out in other U.S. cities, the City saw the arrests of immigrants at courthouses and during check-ins. Community members reported being afraid to go to work, attend school, or access public services they were eligible for. As the federal government sought to terminate the lawful status of many immigrants, San Franciscans who previously had protections and work authorization now faced an uncertain future.

In response to these challenges, the IRC worked with City and community leaders to plan for federal immigration policy changes and strengthen San Francisco’s local response and support for immigrant communities. This included hearings to prepare for the new administration, oppose the travel ban, and develop recommendations on the City’s local response to federal immigration enforcement. Throughout the year, the IRC reaffirmed its commitment to San Francisco’s Sanctuary City values, advocated for inclusive policies, worked to improve language access in San Francisco, and ensured that San Franciscans had a seat at the table to discuss the policies that impact them.

Amid federal attacks on immigrants, the IRC also witnessed the strength and resilience of immigrant communities and a groundswell of support by San Franciscans to stand with their immigrant friends, families, and coworkers. Mayor Daniel Lurie issued an Executive Directive to strengthen San Francisco’s support for immigrant communities. Allies accompanied immigrants to court appointments. Non-profit organizations provided frontline support, informing community members of their rights and providing legal and social services.

During 2025, the IRC helped bring communities together to defend immigrants and stand by the values that make San Francisco a welcoming city. The IRC worked to uplift the concerns of immigrant communities, maintain San Francisco’s status as a leader in immigrant rights, and ensure that immigrants were informed, engaged, and empowered.

Highlights from the past year

Planning for Immigration Policy Changes

Held a special hearing with City and community leaders to prepare for the incoming federal administration's planned changes to immigration policy, how this would impact San Francisco, what actions the City and community have taken to prepare, and what resources are available to community members.

Strengthening San Francisco’s Local Response

Held a special hearing on federal civil immigration enforcement and local response in San Francisco, and issued a resolution with recommendations to strengthen the City’s local response and support for immigrant communities.

Celebrating Local Immigrant Leaders

Hosted the Immigrant Leadership Awards celebration in honor of immigrant leaders and champions of immigrant rights, as part of the IRC’s efforts to highlight the contributions and achievements of immigrants. The 2025 awards event featured remarks by Mayor Daniel Lurie. The IRC’s inaugural awards were introduced by the late Mayor Ed Lee in 2017; and in 2021, Mayor London Breed opened the first virtual awards ceremony.

Reaffirming Commitment to Sanctuary Policies

Published a statement reaffirming the IRC’s commitment to sanctuary policies and issued a resolution urging the City to strengthen its sanctuary policies and ensure that all residents can live with dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law.

Standing with Immigrant Communities

Spoke out in defense of immigrant rights and joined Mayor Daniel Lurie at press conferences and events to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities; and participated in monthly Community Response Planning calls led by OCEIA with City leaders and community organizations.

Urging the City to Support Inclusive Policies

Advocated for the City and County of San Franciso to endorse California Assembly Bill 91 (Harabedian) to improve data collection for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities. San Francisco endorsed AB 91, and the bill was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Newsom.

Opposing Discriminatory Travel Bans

Held a hearing for community members to learn about the federal administration's plans for a travel ban and how it would impact communities in San Francisco, and issued a resolution opposing any discriminatory travel bans.

Certifying San Francisco’s Status as a Welcoming City

Met with the national nonprofit organization Welcoming America and participated in a monthslong effort led by OCEIA to provide evidence of San Francisco’s work to support immigrant communities across City departments. In 2025, Welcoming America certified San Francisco as a five-star welcoming city, making it the first city in the country to achieve its highest rating.

Raising the Visibility of Transgender Immigrants

Participated in Transgender Immigrants Day and held a hearing with City and community leaders to learn about the needs of transgender immigrants in San Francisco, the impact of federal changes, and what steps the City can take to support communities.

Publicizing City Resources for Community Members

Publicized City services and information, including the SF Immigrant Forum, a coalition of the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA), Department of Public Health (DPH), Human Services Agency (HSA), and the Mayor’s Office on Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) to share immigrant resources in San Francisco.

Advancing Language Access in San Francisco

Participated in press conferences in support of language access rights and held regular meetings with OCEIA to improve language access in San Francisco, as a follow-up to the City’s passage of amendments to strengthen the local Language Access Ordinance in 2024. The amendments were informed in part by community input from the IRC’s special hearings on language access and OCEIA’s 11-language community survey of Limited English Proficient (LEP) community members.

Recommendations

The Immigrant Rights Commission recommends that the City and County of San Francisco:

• Support inclusive policies that keep families together and treat all people, including immigrants, with dignity and respect
  
• Ensure that the City’s economic recovery and workforce development opportunities include all San Franciscans, regardless of where they were born or what language they speak
  
• Help keep San Franciscans in their homes by addressing the housing, nutritional, educational and health care needs of vulnerable or underserved families, including immigrants; and ensuring that immigrants’ perspectives are included in such planning
  
• Increase investment in immigrant communities and services, including continuing to support immigration legal services, immigration filing fees, workforce development, housing stability, food security, health access, language access, and community well-being for immigrant families
  
• Strengthen its Sanctuary City policies by closing loopholes in the City and County of Refuge Ordinance, preventing the use of City property for federal civil immigration enforcement, ensuring data practices are lawful, establishing clear protocols for law enforcement interactions with federal agents, looking further into detention conditions at 630 Sansome, partnering with community members to document unlawful enforcement actions, supporting immigrant students and families through SFUSD, and expanding staff training in collaboration with OCEIA to ensure consistent implementation citywide
  
• Ensure that City departments implement the latest amendments to the Language Access Ordinance to address the language needs of community members; invest in language services and necessary staff to improve language access capacity; and continually work to improve language access in partnership with OCEIA
  
• Provide timely, accurate, in-language information, increase coordination among City departments and community partners, and highlight available resources and services to support immigrant communities, in particular reaching those experiencing the impacts of policy changes by the federal administration
  
• Combat anti-Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate through investment in assistance for survivors, prevention and intervention efforts, language access as a safety issue, resources for service providers, and models for cross-racial healing and solidarity
  
• Address the needs of LGBTQIA+ immigrants by expanding access to health care and mental health services, prioritizing safe housing and shelter for transgender immigrants, increasing funding for legal support and assistance programs, and supporting employment and training programs
  
• Develop and implement strategies to help Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, asylum seekers, and other immigrant workers contribute to the city’s economic growth by sponsoring workers for employment-based immigration pathways, expanding support for workers’ cooperatives, business ownership, and paid fellowship and training programs, and supporting economic opportunities for all workers, regardless of their immigration status
  
• Apply an inclusive racial equity lens to determine how the City’s actions may impact people of color, including immigrant communities, and strive to promote equity in all forms
  
• Uphold its tradition as a sanctuary city, where all San Franciscans can contribute and thrive

Get involved

Be informed, get engaged, and speak out! The full Immigrant Rights Commission meets the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. All meetings are accessible and open to the public.

Visit sf.gov/immigrantrights for more information.

Commissioners

• Sarah Souza, Chair
• Kudrat D. Chaudhary, Vice Chair
• Soha Abdou
• Hessah Aljiran
• Aseel Fara
• Hans How
• Celine Kennelly
• Yu Pok (Jose) Ng
• Lucia Obregon Matzer
• Laura Padilla
• Mario Paz
• Monthanus Ratanapakdee
• Jessy Ruiz
• Adoubou Traore
• Alicia Wang

Former Commissioners:*

• Elahe Enssani
• Haregu Gaime
• Marco Senghor
  
  *Commissioners resigned in 2025

Executive Committee:

Chair Souza, Vice Chair Chaudhary, Members Paz and Kennelly.
The Executive Committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. 

Staff and Acknowledgements 

Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA)
Jorge Rivas, Executive Director; Commission Secretary
Elena Shore, Senior Immigrant Affairs Advisor; Commission Clerk; Report Author
Jamie L. Richardson, Senior Communications Specialist