Membership and Seat Qualifications
The below listed summary of seats, term expirations and membership information shall serve as notice of vacancies, upcoming term expirations, and information on currently held seats, appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Appointments by other bodies are listed, if available.
Seat numbers listed as “VACANT” are open for immediate appointment. However, you are able to submit applications for all seats and your application will be maintained for one year, in the event that an unexpected vacancy or opening occurs.
Seat: 1
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Jessy Ruiz Navarro
Term Ending: 6/6/2026
Qualifications:
Must have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 2
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Hans How
Term Ending: 6/6/2026
Qualifications:
Must have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 3
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Kudrat Kontilis (residency requirement waived)
Term Ending: 6/6/2026
Qualifications:
Must have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 4
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Aseel Fara
Term Ending: 6/6/2027
Qualifications:
Must have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 5
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Laura Padilla
Term Ending: 6/6/2026
Qualifications:
Must have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 6
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Mario Paz (residency requirement waived)
Term Ending: 6/6/2027
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant to the United States, appointed in accordance with Charter, Section 4.101, and have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 7
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Celine Kennelly
Term Ending: 6/6/2027
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant to the United States, appointed in accordance with Charter, Section 4.101, and have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 8
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Yu Pok Ng (Jose Ng)
Term Ending: 6/6/2027
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant to the United States, appointed in accordance with Charter, Section 4.101, and have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 9
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Adoubou Traore (residency requirement waived)
Term Ending: 6/6/2026
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant to the United States, appointed in accordance with Charter, Section 4.101, and have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 10
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Sarah Souza
Term Ending: 6/6/2027
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant to the United States, appointed in accordance with Charter, Section 4.101, and have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 11
Appointing Authority: BOS
Seat Holder: Lucia Obregon
Term Ending: 6/6/2027
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant to the United States, appointed in accordance with Charter, Section 4.101, and have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethnic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
Term: 2-years
Seat: 12
Appointing Authority: Mayor
Seat Holder: VACANT -Term expired 6/6/24 - Holdover Member Alicia Wang
Term Ending: 6/7/2026
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant appointed by the Mayor
Seat: 13
Appointing Authority: Mayor
Seat Holder: VACANT - Term expired 7/10/25 – Holdover Member Soha Abdou
Term Ending: 7/10/2027
Qualifications:
Must be an immigrant appointed by the Mayor
Seat: 14
Appointing Authority: Mayor
Seat Holder: Monthanus Ratanpakdee
Term Ending: 5/22/2027
Qualifications:
Must be appointed by the Mayor
Seat: 15
Appointing Authority: Mayor
Seat Holder: Hessah Aljiran
Term Ending: 6/6/2026
Qualifications:
Must be appointed by the Mayor
Application Process
Please Note: Depending upon the posting date, a vacancy may have already been filled. To determine if a vacancy for this Commission is still available, or if you require additional information, please call the Rules Committee Clerk at (415) 554-5184.
Applications and other documents may be submitted to BOS-Appointments@sfgov.org
For seats appointed by other Authorities please contact the Board / Commission / Committee / Task Force (see below) or the appointing authority directly.
Next Steps:
Applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be contacted by the Rules Committee Clerk once the Rules Committee Chair determines the date of the hearing. Members of the Rules Committee will consider the appointment(s) at the meeting and applicant(s) may be asked to state their qualifications. The appointment of the individual(s) who is recommended by the Rules Committee will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Description:
The Immigrant Rights Commission consists of fifteen (15) voting members. Eleven (11) voting members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors and the other four (4) voting members are appointed by the Mayor.
At least eight (8) members shall be immigrants to the United States who are appointed in accordance with Charter, Section 4.101. It has been past practice that six (6) of the immigrant members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors and two (2) immigrant members are appointed by the Mayor. All members must have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the health, human service, educational, or employment issues that affect immigrants residing in San Francisco and shall reflect the geographic, ethic, and sexual orientation population of San Francisco.
The term of each member of the Commission shall be two years; provided, however, that the members first appointed shall, by lot, classify their terms so that eight (8) members shall serve a term of three years and seven (7) members shall serve a term of two years. In the event a vacancy occurs during the term of office of any member, a successor shall be appointed to complete the unexpired term of the office vacated in a manner similar to that for the initial member.
Duties:
The Immigrant Rights Commission shall advise and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor about issues affecting immigrants residing in San Francisco.
Holdover Information:
Members may serve as holdover members after their term expires for an indefinite amount of time.
Report:
Annual report to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor on the review and evaluation of the services and programs in place for immigrants residing in San Francisco, any outstanding needs, and recommendations and plans as to a program for responding to the health, human service, and employment needs of immigrants in a manner that is not duplicative (pursuant to Administrative Code, Section 5.201(d)(5)).
Authority:
Administrative Code, Section 5.201 (Ordinance No. 211-97) (Ordinance No. 116-24)
Sunset Date:
None
Contact:
Jorge Rivas
Immigrant Rights Commission
1155 Market Street, 1st Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 581-2317
civic.engagement@sfgov.org
Updated: December 22, 2025