Alameda County Together for All Ad Hoc Committee - April 30, 2026
Alameda County Together for All Ad Hoc Committee Meeting on Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs - April 30, 2026
The Alameda County Together for All Ad Hoc Committee held a special meeting on April 30, 2026, to receive the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) Implementation Study presentation. The meeting focused on recommendations for establishing a permanent office to coordinate immigrant and refugee services. Supervisors Marquez and Fortunato Bass co-chaired. The committee heard from consultants, community members, and discussed next steps. No formal action was taken as this was an informational item.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Esmeralda Iglesias (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) expressed strong support for OIRA, stating that navigating legal resources is difficult and overwhelming, and that centralizing and institutionalizing programs is needed to meet community needs efficiently.
- Adriana (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) supported the office, emphasizing its importance for immigrant and refugee communities to access services.
- Paola (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) voiced support, noting the office will help fulfill the county’s commitment to immigrant and refugee rights.
- Alana (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) urged support for OIRA, highlighting the need for systemic infrastructure for legal services, deportation defense, and know-your-rights outreach. She stated Alameda County is home to 23% of the region’s immigrant population.
- Yanaton Greenberg (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) argued that the Bay Area economy depends on immigrant workers and that supporting them is both a moral and economic necessity.
- Lucas (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United, deep East Oakland resident) emphasized the terror of ICE threats and urged county investments for thriving, not just surviving. He cited collaboration with San Francisco’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs.
- Andrés Pomar (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) reaffirmed support, stating the office is needed long-term to maintain commitment to immigrant and refugee communities.
- Diego Villegas Aguilar (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) noted that similar offices exist in other counties and that the office should remain accountable to community organizations.
- Leticia (United Women Activist) highlighted the need for linguistic access and services, saying the community is terrorized and criminalized by the current administration. She supported the office for workshops and resource fairs.
- Carmen (United Women Activist) said the office is important for providing resources and opportunities, especially for those who are lost and disoriented upon arrival.
- Alma (United Women Activist) expressed continued support, stating the community needs to feel respected, supported, and defended, and to receive information in their own language.
- Liliana (United Women Activist) asked the county to support the immigrant community, citing discrimination and barriers faced upon arrival.
- Alejo (Executive Director, Trabajadores Unidos Workers United, part of Acudir) reaffirmed the need for the office, praised the collaborative process, and looked forward to continued work.
- Miriam Edelin Myers (Lead Organizer, Trabajadores Unidos Workers United, Fruitvale resident) shared experience from San Francisco’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, noting that one in three Alameda County residents is an immigrant and that the office is crucial for equal protections.
- Samuel (Organizing Director, Trabajadores Unidos Workers United, member of Acudir) highlighted the office’s potential to support families during raids and provide crucial support for those defending their loved ones.
- Dave Thompson (Co-executive Director, My Eden Voice; co-chair of Acudir) urged placement of the office in the County Administrator’s Office (CAO) based on experience with the Office of Unincorporated Communities, stating agencies do not coordinate well without central authority.
- Rich Whipple (Community Advisory Board member, District 3 resident) praised the consultants’ work and shared experience building San Francisco’s immigrant affairs office, expressing excitement for Alameda County to follow suit.
- Lisa Knox (California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, lead for Accord Collaborative; CAB member) fully supported all recommendations, especially sustaining funding for existing collaboratives, which have built strong networks serving diverse immigrant communities.
- Cynthia Salazar (Trabajadores Unidos Workers United) said such programs would have helped her parents from Guatemala avoid living in fear, and expressed full support.
- Maria Alejandra Leon (Mujeres Unidas Activas) stressed the importance of a space to learn about rights and how to defend them, especially amid ICE raids.
- John Marks (Founder, Homeless Incorporated) supported the new office but urged the committee to expand its scope to protect unhoused residents from federal policy, proposing safe haven zones and expanded hotlines.
- Marta Sanchez (United Women Activist, indigenous Mam speaker from Guatemala) emphasized the need for inclusion, accessibility, and continued language services for indigenous and immigrant communities.
- Christopher Martinez (Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation, part of FIELP rapid response network) applauded the county, stating the office is a true statement of values. He urged ongoing community input in multiple languages and long-term holistic investment.
- One speaker played a video of past presidents making statements against illegal immigration, but did not state a personal position; the speaker identified as a lifelong Democrat and recalled earlier policies.
Discussion Items
- Presentation by Sangeeta Kumar (Be the Change Consulting) and Alex Deshinthal (Likewater Consulting Group): The consultants presented findings from a study conducted from December 2025 to April 2026. The methodology included a peer jurisdiction scan (13 jurisdictions), 22 county stakeholder interviews, community focus groups, steering committee guidance, and a nine-member community advisory board (CAB) with representatives from each supervisorial district and four rapid response coalitions (ASALEP, ACCORD, ACUDIR, APILO). Key strengths: genuine political will, existing investments, protective policies, strong legal infrastructure, rapid response networks, and a capable CBO ecosystem. Challenges: fragmentation of services, lack of shared data, inconsistent county coordination, need for predictable funding, and varying law enforcement partnership levels.
- Mission: Build and sustain infrastructure supporting immigrant communities through convening, coordination, data analysis, and policy advancement. Vision: An Alameda County where immigrants are supported, protected, and able to fully participate.
- Eight Core Functions: (1) Community partnership and engagement, (2) Population needs assessment, planning and evaluation, (3) Clearinghouse and navigation hub for referrals, (4) Public-private partnership coordination, (5) County coordination, compliance, and capacity building, (6) Policy development and advocacy, (7) Communications and intergovernmental affairs, (8) Learning and innovation.
- Office Placement: The CAB recommended an eventual standalone office but suggested a two-year incubation period within a host department. Preferred placement is in the County Administrator’s Office (CAO) for central authority; if not feasible, another department with a champion, cross-department track record, and strong community connections. Criteria include agency head champion, cross-department collaboration experience, and support for accountability mechanisms.
- Staffing Model: Seven-person office: Director of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships, Deputy Director of Policy and Planning, Senior Policy Analyst, Community Program and Training Specialist, Data and Research Analyst, and Administrative Coordinator. Total estimated cost: $1.92 million (assumes average $275k per position including benefits).
- Community Accountability Structures: Continue the CAB during pilot phase, invest in existing community collaboratives, map existing coalitions, hold regular convenings for contractors, revise contracts to include collaboration, and invest in community pilot programs.
- Budget Recommendation: $10 million total, including: $4.6 million for contract renewals and expanded services, $1.92 million for staffing, $450,000 for operating budget (needs assessment, clearinghouse, etc.), and $3 million as a floor for public-private partnership contributions.
- Six Immediate Actions: (1) Sustain and augment current funding for services (avoid lapse). (2) Establish office placement with real authority (two-year incubation then standalone). (3) Launch director search immediately. (4) Fund full seven-person staff team. (5) Grant OIRA explicit cross-departmental authority for language access, ICE-free zones, and immigration response plan. (6) Allocate at least $450,000 programmatic operating budget.
- Five Priorities for Two-Year Pilot: Build foundation for long-term county integration; assess needs and stabilize ecosystem; build countywide resource navigation hub; coordinate implementation of existing policies; build community accountability and transparency.
- Supervisor Marquez: Acknowledged the rapid timeline, thanked consultants, CAB, CBOs, faith community, philanthropy (Zellerbach Family Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, Akenati Foundation), staff (Alex Boskowitz, Hannah, Charles, Lori Cox, Shelly), and honored the legacy of Supervisors Richard Valle and Wilma Chan. Stated this was an informational item; she is not prepared to take a position but is committed to advancing the work. Noted a $95 million deficit but will explore all options, including reserves.
- Supervisor Fortunato Bass: Expressed strong support, noted the urgency and the need to move quickly. Praised the comprehensiveness and thoughtful criteria. Acknowledged the contributions of staff Cynthia Munoz Ramos and the CAB. Stated the next tentative meeting is June 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
Key Outcomes
- No formal action was taken (informational item only).
- Supervisors Marquez and Fortunato Bass will co-author a joint letter to advance next steps, with the number one priority being to sustain existing contracts.
- The consultants will incorporate public and CAB feedback and finalize the full report (90+ pages) for presentation to the full Board of Supervisors.
- Supervisor Marquez announced a second budget webinar on June 11, 2026, and noted the next budget work session is May 19, 2026, with the proposed budget presented May 28, 2026.
- Supervisor Fortunato Bass proposed a future agenda item on data privacy and mass surveillance, referencing concerns about the Flock Safety system.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you for being here. The meeting of the Alameda County Together for All Ad Hoc Committee will come to order. Will the clerk please call our role? Supervisor Marquez present. Supervisor Fortunato Vass. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you. Thanks again, everyone, for being here. We do have a Spanish interpreter. Mr. Norman, do you mind sharing instructions? Hi, good afternoon. Buenas tardes. My name is Norman, and I'm here with interpretation in Spanish and English. So we'll be the other people talking simultaneously. We apologize for that, but we don't apologize for language access. So Norman Alex y vamos a provider. Okay. Thank you, Norman and Alex, for providing Spanish interpretation today. So again, welcome to the Alameda County Together for All ad hoc committee meeting. Just as a reminder, this committee is a forum to coordinate a proactive response to protect, support, and lift up communities that are impacted by federal policies and budgets, as well as to ensure that we are all informed, prepared, and coordinated in protecting critical health programs, social services, and the constitutional rights of our Alameda County residents. We usually meet monthly on the first Thursday of every month. However, this is a special meeting because we have very important and timely information to share through a presentation today. And to stay informed, please check out our webpage, which you can find at district 5.acgov.org slash act for all. Given that this committee has focused on the impacts of the current federal administration, I did want to pause and acknowledge that we continue to be in turbulent and challenging times for our community, both locally as well as globally. And just yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled to weaken the Voting Rights Act, making it easier for unfair maps to dilute the voices of communities of color and potentially leading to the disenfranchisement of black and brown voters. So this underscores the need for Congress to restore strong federal voting protections. In addition, the court is currently weighing a case that could allow the federal government to end temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants, raising serious concerns about due process, stability for families, and the scope of executive power over immigration policy. So that's just a sliver of what we know is happening nationally. Some of this is due to budget, some of this is also due to changes in work requirements or eligibility criteria. We're also dealing with state impacts of Prop One. So I do want to call your attention to the fact that in a number of our board committees, we are dealing directly with these impacts. So I invite you to watch and participate in our board committees to track very closely the impacts of the federal as well as state impacts on our safety net services. And I wanted to point out that our next budget work session is May 19th, and our county administrator will present the proposed budget on May 28th because of our community advocacy as well as board advocacy for more transparency. That's actually two weeks sooner than it usually is to allow more time to digest that information and give feedback. And for folks who are really interested in digging into the budget and the potential impacts, my office did host a budget webinar that you can find on my YouTube channel, and we'll be hosting a second webinar on June 11th in the evening. And then finally, I wanted to share that here in Alameda County, we are very grateful to our community for really grounding in the solidarity, the strength that we have at the neighborhood level and with each other to organize to build power. In addition to the work that we are doing here in the uh in the board of on the board of supervisors, myself and Supervisor Marquez have been engaging our colleagues across the Bay Area. We have an opportunity to continue to build regional coordination to protect immigrants and refugees. And we also know that out in the community there is a very caring presence, whether it's foot patrols or adopt a spot, adopt a workplace. There's a just incredible love out there for everyone in our community, which is so important. I know May Day is going to show more of that solidarity. And in addition to that solidarity, there's also some bright spots I want to make sure that we point out. We did have a work session earlier this week where we talked about Measure Widst everything that's happening that might tear away our safety net and cause fear in our communities. Here at the county, we do have Measure W, which is supporting housing solutions as well as essential services, and some of that funding is supporting the things that we have talked about here in this committee. We also have Measure C, which is supporting early child care. And I was just at the first five commission board meeting where we heard 150 million has already been deployed into our community for early child care. So that's just a little bit of what's happening in the community, both in terms of continued threats as well as opportunities. And today we have a single agenda item, which is our Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Implementation Study Presentation.
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