San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission
Full Commission Meeting


1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Vice Chair Paz called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm.

Present: Chair Kennelly (6:07), Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Fujii, Gaime (5:46) Khojasteh, Kong, Radwan, Rahimi (5:39, left at 6:42), Ricarte, Roy (5:45), Wang (5:41), Wong.

Not Present: Commissioners Enssani (excused), Gurvits (excused).

Staff Present: Director Pon, Deputy Director Fernández Sykes, Commission Clerk Shore, Office Manager Chan.


2. Public Comment
Luis Zamora, who works with the Spectra Project, an organization that supports LGBT populations of the Middle East and North Africa, provided testimony as a private citizen. Zamora requested that the Commission reject a ballot measure that aims to weaken the sanctuary city law. He asked the Commission to support a measure introduced by Supervisor Hillary Ronen that would prohibit the City from using funds to assist in enforcement or discrimination.


3. Action Item: Approval of previous minutes
(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Approval of April 9, 2018 Neighborhood Commission Meeting Minutes
Vice Chair Paz invited Commissioners to review the minutes from April 9, 2018. Commissioner Wong made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Rahimi seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

b. Approval of May 14, Full Commission Meeting Minutes
Vice Chair Paz invited Commissioners to review the minutes from May 14, 2018. Commissioner Kong made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Radwan seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.


4. Ad-Hoc Committee Report Back
(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Safety Net / Health & Well-Being
Commissioner Radwan reported that the Safety Net Committee discussed working with OCEIA staff to create a baseline list of city services and community based organizations that would coincide with a listening tour. Commissioner Khojasteh added that committee members also discussed a day of services.

Vice Chair Paz asked if the Commission could ask OCEIA’s help in scheduling listening sessions. Director Pon stated that staff could recirculate the listening tour draft plan. Only three Commissioners provided feedback on the draft. According to the plan, OCEIA staff would help with scheduling and Commissioners would attend the meetings in pairs.

Vice Chair Paz asked if Commissioners were aware of upcoming community meetings that should be on the list. Director Pon requested that Commissioners send any upcoming meetings to Commission Clerk Shore. She noted that Commissioner Fujii has drafted talking points that OCEIA staff will refine.

b. Immigration Policy and Muslim Ban
Commissioner Rahimi presented a brief overview of the topics discussed at the last immigration policy committee meeting, including a preliminary discussion on how the Commission could advocate for undocumented immigrants in the criminal justice system. Commissioner Radwan stated that the committee also discussed what the Commission could do regarding the ongoing issue of family separation at the border.

Director Pon reminded Commissioners that any ideas suggested by ad-hoc committees must be discussed and approved by the Executive Committee and then by the Full Commission. The Commission issued a statement on family separation on June 3, 2018, and a second statement two weeks later. It has also signed onto joint letters from other cities. The Commission plans to meet with the Human Rights Commission to discuss planning a joint hearing.

Commissioners asked Director Pon about the kinds of activities they were permitted to participate in as a Commission. Director Pon answered their questions and reviewed actions the Commission could take.

Commissioner Khojasteh discussed his recent trip to the border and asked about how to leverage Commissioners’ networks by sharing events on social media. Commissioners may send events to Clerk Shore to request that OCEIA staff share them on social media. Director Pon noted the importance of thinking strategically in order to reframe the narrative around immigrants.

Commissioner Wang asked how many San Franciscans are affected by family separations. Commissioner Rahimi suggested asking Asian Law Caucus for that information. Commissioner Wang suggested that the Commission focus on the sexual abuse of parents and children, and that the Commission refer to them as asylum seekers.

c. Communications
Commissioner Ricarte shared several items the Communications Committee is working on, including a calendar of events, collateral and talking points for Commissioners’ listening tours, and restructuring of the website so the most current statement is on the front page. Director Pon noted that OCEIA staff have already implemented some of those recommendations, including posting an excerpt of their latest statement on the front page of the website.

Chair Kennelly presided over the remainder of the meeting.

5. Staff Report (Director Pon)
Director Pon noted that Commission Clerk Shore had provided Commissioners with an updated matrix that tracks immigration policy. Director Pon provided an overview of policy changes, including the latest ruling on California’s AB 450, the backlog in requests for citizenship, leaked changes to the public charge regulations, and family separation at the border. She invited Commissioners to the July 11, 2018 inauguration of the new mayor and the July 12, 2018 state census convening in San Francisco.

Chair Kennelly asked Director Pon for an update on non-citizen voting in the School Board elections. Director Pon provided an overview of Prop N and the importance of education on the risks and benefits of voting so that residents could make informed decisions.


6. New Business
Chair Kennelly invited Commissioners to present new business.

Commissioner Wang requested that the Commission agendize de-naturalization. Commissioner Rahimi cited the practice of discharging army personnel of immigrant backgrounds.

Commissioner Khojasteh discussed the growing trend of politicians calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be abolished and suggested that the Commission write a resolution on the matter. Commissioner Gaime questioned the long-term strategy of such a move. Commissioner Rahimi and Chair Kennelly suggested adding the item to the agenda of the next immigration policy committee meeting.

Commissioners discussed inviting speakers to their next meeting and took a poll of how many Commissioners would be present. By a show of hands, only seven Commissioners planned to attend the August meeting. Director Pon stated that staff suggested holding a meeting in September instead of August. The September meeting could be a joint hearing with the Human Rights Commission. Commissioner Wang suggested that the Veterans Commission also be included.

Director Pon asked the Executive Committee if they would like to invite experts to their July 25, 2018 meeting. Chair Kennelly and Vice Chair Paz agreed. Vice Chair Paz reiterated his request to invite experts from HOPE SF to discuss housing for mixed-status families. He also requested an expert on the proposed changes to the public charge regulations. Chair Kennelly requested that the committee invite an expert on Prop N.

Commissioner Khojasteh asked Director Pon for an update on the reappointment of Commissioners. Director Pon stated that she has asked the Rules Committee to notify her when they plan to hold hearings. Commissioners up for reappointment by the Board of Supervisors should notify OCEIA staff of any scheduling conflicts they may have during the months of July and September.


7. Old Business
Commissioner Ricarte thanked OCEIA staff for the Immigrant Leadership Awards event. Chair Kennelly thanked Commissioners for their role in the awards, especially Commissioners Fujii and Ricarte.


8. Adjournment
Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 6:57 pm.