San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission
Remote Hearing Minutes

1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
Present: Chair Kennelly, Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Fujii, Khojasteh, Monge, Radwan, Rahimi, Ricarte, Wang.
Not present: Commissioners Enssani (excused), Gaime (excused), Ruiz (excused)
OCEIA Staff present: Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Administrative Programs Coordinator Alvarez, Office Manager Chan, Deputy Director Whipple.

2. Public Comment
There was no public comment.

3. Action Item: Approval of previous minutes
(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Approval of September 14, 2020 Full Commission Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Wang motioned to approve the minutes from the Full Commission’s September 14, 2020 meeting. Commissioner Monge seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

4. Action Items:
(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Abolish ICE Resolution (Commissioner Khojasteh)
Commissioner Khojasteh asked Director Pon to provide an update on her coordination with the City Attorney’s Office. Director Pon consulted with the City Attorney’s Office following the instructions of the Mayor’s Office and City Attorney. In response to the City Attorney’s request, Director Pon sent them the resolution for their review. Commissioner Khojasteh provided an overview of the draft resolution. Commissioners discussed its timing and content. Director Pon noted that the Commission may not be used as a platform for a specific party or a partisan political purpose. She recommended that the Commission focus on inhumane policies, not a specific candidate for office. The Commission must calendar, discuss and vote on any policy recommendations.

Commissioner Ricarte and Commissioner Rahimi made motions for the resolution to move forward and be finalized by the Executive Committee and staff. Chair Kennelly summarized a final motion for the Commission to release a values statement condemning ICE’s actions, and organize a hearing regarding policy recommendations on the future of ICE. Commissioners made the final motion by acclamation and the motion was approved unanimously in a roll-call vote.

b. Update on Racial Equity Working Group (Commissioner Khojasteh)
Commissioner Khojasteh provided an update on his communications with Director Simley. He asked racial equity working group members about their availability on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. Chair Kennelly asked working group members to respond about their availability.

5. Staff Reports
(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Director’s Updates Director Pon provided an update on the 2020 census, which ended at 2:59 a.m. Pacific Time on October 16, 2020. San Francisco’s self-response rate was 66.9%, California’s response rate was 69.6%, and the federal response rate was 67%. She thanked the Commission Chair and Vice Chair for their leadership. The Supreme Court will hear the case on the administration’s attempt to eliminate undocumented immigrants from apportionment. The Supreme Court has also agreed to hear cases on the Remain in Mexico policy and the funding of the border wall. Meanwhile, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched immigration enforcement operations in the lead-up to the election. In response to a question from Chair Kennelly, Deputy Director Whipple stated that the Department of Public Health has sent out a memo with information about the Rapid Response Network. Chair Kennelly thanked Director Pon and OCEIA staff for their work on the 2020 census.

6. Old Business
There was no old business.

7. New Business
Commissioner Khojasteh asked Director Pon to follow up with the City Attorney’s Office. He noted that New York City and Oakland had passed resolutions to abolish ICE in 2018. Director Pon asked Commissioner Monge if the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has passed a similar resolution. Commissioner Monge will research the matter.

8. Adjournment
Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m.