March 8, 2021 IRC meeting

Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m.



Present: Chair Kennelly, Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Gaime, Khojasteh, Mena, Monge, Rahimi (left at 6:13 p.m.), Ricarte, Ruiz, Wang.



Not present: Commissioners Fujii (excused), Enssani (excused).



OCEIA staff present: Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Administrative Programs Coordinator Alvarez, Operations and Grants Administrator Chan, Spanish Language Specialist Cosenza, Deputy Director Whipple.



Chair Kennelly welcomed Commissioner Mena and invited her to speak. Commissioner Mena introduced herself and thanked the Commission.

 

There was no public comment.

City Administrator Chu will join the next Commission meeting.

Director Pon read aloud a commendation from the Commission to Commissioner Radwan upon his resignation. Chair Kennelly and Vice Chair Paz thanked Commissioner Radwan for his service. Commissioner Radwan discussed his tenure as a Commissioner and thanked the Commission.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Approval of February 8, 2021 Full Commission Meeting Minutes

Commissioner Wang made a motion to approve the February 8, 2021 meeting minutes. Commissioner Gaime seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Immigration Policy Updates (Sally Kinoshita, Deputy Director, Immigrant Legal Resource Center)

Sally Kinoshita, deputy director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, provided updates on the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, DREAM Act, Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, and Farm Workforce Modernization Act, along with the Biden administration’s expansion of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuela. She also provided updates on California state bills AB 1259 and the Vision Act.



b. USCIS Updates (John Kramar, USCIS San Francisco District Director)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) San Francisco District Director John Kramar provided an overview of USCIS’s work, the impact of COVID-19 on agency operations, and how USCIS is responding to these challenges. Director Kramar asked for suggestions on how to improve outreach, and responded to questions from Commissioners on the I-797 extension, the receipt date of applications, the asylum system, and interview backlogs.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Language Access Committee Update (Commissioner Monge)

Chair Kennelly provided an overview of the Commission’s discussion on language access at its strategic planning retreat. Commissioner Monge presented the Language Access Committee’s plan for a two-part series of hearings on language access in San Francisco. The first hearing will focus on the Language Access Ordinance (LAO), and the second hearing on community members’ recommendations on how to amend the LAO to be more responsive to the needs of Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities during emergency conditions. Commissioner Monge volunteered to chair the committee, with Commissioners Gaime, Khojasteh, Mena, and Rahimi serving as members. Chair Kennelly will also participate. The committee is working with OCEIA staff on developing a multilingual community survey on language access.



b. Immigrant Leadership Awards

Chair Kennelly provided an overview of the Immigrant Leadership Awards and Commissioners voiced support for organizing a virtual event this year. Commissioner Ricarte volunteered to chair the planning committee. Commissioner Ricarte motioned to schedule the Immigrant Leadership Awards for June 14, 2021. Commissioner Wang seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. All Commissioners are invited to submit nominations through OCEIA staff.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Director’s Updates Director Pon provided an overview of office operations, including the Community Ambassadors Program’s safety work, OCEIA staff’s analysis of immigration policy changes for the Mayor’s Office, and the Language Access Unit’s interpretation services for Board of Supervisors meetings.



b. IRC Appointments

Director Pon welcomed Commissioner Mena and noted that the Board of Supervisors will consider the appointment of new Commissioners and the reappointment of current Commissioners at its next meeting. Once Commissioners are appointed, OCEIA staff will schedule their oaths of office. OCEIA staff and the Executive Committee will also plan an orientation for new Commissioners.



c. Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700)

Director Pon reminded Commissioners to complete and sign the Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) and return the original to OCEIA staff. Commissioners who already file a Form 700 must list the Immigrant Rights Commission on the form.

Commissioner Khojasteh asked about follow-up actions from the Commission’s January special hearing. Commissioner Khojasteh had volunteered to research arrests taking place in the Tenderloin neighborhood. The Executive Committee will discuss follow-up actions at its next meeting.

There was no new business.

Chair Kennelly wished Commissioners a happy International Women’s Day and adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m.