Concerns Over NGO Funding Related to Chinese Government
According to a report released on Tuesday, sources linked to China reportedly provided funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accused of advising illegal foreigners on how to evade immigration and customs enforcement.
The Daily Caller News Foundation detailed that the Chinese American Planning Council (CPC), a nonprofit established in 1965, has ties to these sources. Their website emphasizes a commitment to “social and economic empowerment of Chinese Americans, immigrants, and low-income communities.”
ICE’s initiatives to enforce immigration regulations and remove illegal foreigners have become a focal point, drawing accusations that some groups are exploiting these enforcement efforts.
Past allegations suggest that NGOs have aided illegal foreigners in avoiding immigration authorities, in some cases with federal funding. In April, it was reported that Carlyn Cowen, CPC’s head of policy and public relations, was caught on video discussing methods to evade ICE agents.
She mentioned a protocol at her weekend job where employees are trained on how to respond when ICE approaches. “When we see ICE at the door, we actually enter a button in the point of sale system,” Cowen explained. “Everyone knows what to do, regardless of the organization or business type.”
Cowen shared several tactics on the recording, including strengthening “the physical space,” identifying “permitted individuals to act if ICE shows up,” and establishing a “clear protocol.”
The House of Representatives’ Homeland Security Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), has begun investigating CPC after the video surfaced. Notably, 55% of CPC’s revenue reportedly comes from federal and state government grants.
CPC maintains that it “complies with all laws.” They assert, “Our training aims to educate participants about their constitutional rights, not to instruct anyone on how to avoid the law.”
From 2018, CPC allegedly received donations amounting to $445,969 from entities associated with the Chinese government. Included in this sum is a nearly $10,000 contribution from the government-affiliated Bank of China in 2020.
Additionally, the Chinese Commercial Bank supposedly gifted nearly $20,000 to NGOs from 2018 to 2023, with CPC reportedly receiving around $45,000 annually from the Hong Kong-based East Asia Bank. Leadership at CPC is said to have associations with China’s Joint Council, a political consultative conference.
Moreover, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, another nonprofit based in New York City, has offered CPC up to $229,993 since 2018. Media reports indicate that Wang frequently interacted with influential figures tied to the CCP.
Even though the health center has received nearly $700,000 from the Charles B. Wang International Foundation since 2009, a spokesperson stated they have no connection to Wang’s other charitable endeavors.
The findings heighten fears regarding potential threats to U.S. national security. Iramilman, media director for the U.S. Federation of Immigration Reform, mentioned, “It’s becoming evident that social unrest and divisions within the U.S. are goals of the Chinese government.”
Mehlman highlighted that the Chinese government appears to be funding a network of organizations based in the U.S. “ICE’s initiatives to manage our immigration laws and remove illegal foreigners seem to be increasingly exploited,” he said.
To counter foreign influence, Mehlman suggested a thorough reassessment of visa protocols and NGO funding sources, emphasizing the importance of revoking any visas associated with individuals misrepresenting their intentions.
During Donald Trump’s administration, similar measures were initiated to curtail foreign meddling, alongside tackling illegal immigration. Attorney General Pam Bondy formerly directed the Department of Justice to investigate NGOs receiving federal support, leading to the revocation of 4,000 foreign student visas within the first 100 days of Trump’s second term.
