Dando voz a la comunidad : including undocumented immigrants in U.S. city planning

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to better understand why undocumented immigrants do not typically participate in U.S. city planning processes, and present recommendations for improved inclusion. This report provides a brief background into the presence of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., their unique civic organization, and the need to include them in the planning of our cities and communities. The East Riverside Corridor Master Plan, (currently under the adoption process by the City of Austin, Texas) serves as a case study for the report. East Riverside is an area that is predominantly Hispanic and home to a large stock of immigrant workforce housing, yet the plan’s public participation phase saw little to no contributions from the zone’s lowincome immigrant residents. Austin city planners’ perspectives are presented in the report, as are the views and ideas of undocumented women who live in East Riverside low-income housing. Suggestions for re-conceptualizing the planning discipline are presented, as well as general tools for how city planners could better include undocumented immigrants.