Rules committee approves slate for Immigrant Rights Commission, including residency waiver

The Rules Committee on Dec. 5 voted to forward a slate of five appointees to the Immigrant Rights Commission (IRC) to the full Board of Supervisors, including a residency waiver for one seat.

The committee interviewed six applicants for five seats: Jesse Ruiz (incumbent, Latino/x transgender community representative), Kudrat Dutachodori (international attorney and community engagement lead), Haragu Gaimi (incumbent immigration attorney), Ryan Cojaste (incumbent commissioner and executive‑committee member), Marco Senghor (Mission small business owner), and Alahi Insani (professor and elected academic senator at San Francisco State University). Applicants described a range of experience in immigrant legal services, community engagement, education and small‑business leadership.

Multiple in‑person and remote public commenters, including Celine Kennelly (chair of the Immigrant Rights Commission) and community leaders, urged the committee to approve the slate and highlighted the commission’s work on language access, sanctuary city protections, anti‑AAPI hate hearings and immigrant housing issues. Several community speakers emphasized Marco Senghor’s long-standing Mission District presence and representation for African immigrant communities.

Chair Peskin proposed the following appointments to fill the five seats: Navarro (seat 1), Haragu Gaimi (seat 2, with residency waiver), Chaudhary (seat 3), Marco Senghor (seat 5) and Alahi Insani (seat 9). Supervisors Chan and Stephanie voted aye alongside Chair Peskin; the motion passed without objection.

The appointments will be finalized by the full Board of Supervisors.