July 24, 2024: IRC Executive Committee meeting

We, the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission, acknowledge that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramaytush Ohlone have never ceded, lost nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders and relatives of the Ramaytush Community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples.

This item is to allow members of the public to address the Commission on matters that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission and that do not appear on today’s agenda.

(Discussion/Action)
Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the Immigrant Rights Commission’s Executive Committee meeting of June 26, 2024.

a. Proposed Letter Addressing Delays in Asylum Interviews (Vice Chair Chaudhary)
(Discussion/Action)
This item allows the Executive Committee to discuss the latest draft of the IRC letter of inquiry to USCIS addressing the delays in asylum interviewing and processing. The letter was written by Vice Chair Chaudhary and edited by the Executive Committee and OCEIA staff. At its January 22, 2024 meeting, Director Rivas suggested meeting with USCIS to raise these concerns first. However, the meeting has not yet taken place. Vice Chair Chaudhary re-introduced this item under Old and New Business during the Executive Committee’s April 24, 2024 meeting. During its June 26, 2024 meeting, the Executive Committee made an edit to the draft and voted to move the letter forward, and Director Rivas said OCEIA would edit the letter and share with the Mayor’s Office.

b. Proposed Resolution on Immigrant-Owned Small Businesses (Commissioner Souza)
(Discussion/Action)
This item allows Commissioner Souza to propose a resolution acknowledging the contributions of immigrant-owned small businesses. This item was introduced under New Business at the Full Commission’s May 13, 2024 meeting.

c. IRC Actions Concerning Needs of Ukrainian Community Members (Commissioner Obregon)
(Discussion/Action)
This item allows Commissioner Obregon to discuss possible actions the Commission can take related to the needs of Ukrainian community members. This item was introduced under New Business at the Full Commission’s May 13, 2024 meeting.

d. Follow-Up Actions from Workforce Recommendations
(Discussion/Action)
This item allows Director Rivas and the Executive Committee to discuss follow-up actions from the Commission’s workforce recommendations, including writing a letter to the Department of Human Resources regarding employment-based immigration pathways.

(Information)
a. Director’s Updates
Report on OCEIA and IRC activities and announcements. This item allows the OCEIA Director to provide brief updates on activities and announcements. If the Commission would like a full report, we can place that matter on the agenda for a future meeting.

b. Language Access Ordinance Amendments
This item allows Director Rivas to provide an update on the Language Access Ordinance amendments and resolution.

c. Update on IRC Statement on Medi-Cal Expansion
This item allows Director Rivas to provide an update on the IRC statement on the Medi-Cal expansion, which was amended and approved at the May 13, 2024 Full Commission meeting.

(Information)
This item is to allow Commissioners to provide updates on items the Commission has previously discussed, and to introduce new agenda items for future consideration by the Commission.