Council accepts immigration committee’s request for non‑voting council liaison; committee keeps membership community‑driven

The Santa Fe governing body approved an amendment changing the makeup of the recently reconstituted immigration committee to allow a city councilor to serve as a non‑voting member and to have the committee chair appointed by the mayor, following robust debate about the proper role of elected officials on resident advisory bodies.

Councilor Alma Castro, who sponsored the amendment package, said the change was requested by the immigration committee itself after the panel voted internally to keep civic membership community‑based while wanting clearer, regular lines of communication to the governing body. "We need elected representation at the table to strengthen communication and to ensure the committee’s recommendations are effectively conveyed to the council," Castro said.

Committee chair Ivan Cornejo spoke during petitions from the floor and in public comment. He told the council the committee had voted to keep membership community‑led while asking that a council member be available as a non‑voting liaison so the committee’s policy work can be communicated to the elected body; Cornejo emphasized the committee’s desire that the liaison not vote on committee matters.

Councilors debated the merits. Supporters said a council liaison would provide better, faster communication with the governing body and help translate committee recommendations into city policy, especially for urgent immigration‑related matters. Supporters pointed to the committee’s history of producing policy recommendations and argued that formalizing a liaison role formalized support without ceding control.

Opponents said councilor membership (even non‑voting) can change the power dynamic and intimidate community members who seek to speak freely to an independent advisory panel. Councilor Pilar Faulkner argued that many resident boards function best as community-run bodies and warned against granting any elected official an outsized influence over residents’ deliberations: "Elected officials are a position of power… I am never gonna be comfortable with any elected official having that much influence over a resident board," she said.

After discussion the governing body adopted amendment language recommended by staff and the advisory committee that keeps the committee community‑majority, allows a council liaison who will not vote on committee matters, and lets the mayor appoint the committee chair. Councilors asked staff to ensure committee minutes and agendas are published promptly and to increase transparency about committee‑to‑council communication. Committee members had also requested modest staff support and clarity on data privacy issues; the council instructed staff to return with implementation steps.

Chair Cornejo thanked the council and said the committee will continue focusing on immigration services, privacy protections, and rapid‑response supports for immigrants in need; he had earlier emphasized the committee’s intent that the council liaison be a non‑voting, nonchair presence.