House Judiciary Committee Investigates Funding for Activist Group
The House Judiciary Committee is looking into whether an activist organization linked to the Democratic Party, which received close to $1 million in grants during the Biden administration, may have used this money to fuel the anti-ICE riots that erupted in Los Angeles earlier this month.
A letter addressed to the Union of Humanitarian Immigration Rights (Chirla) details taxpayer-funded grants awarded to the group by the federal government from 2021 to 2023, as reported by the Post.
“This raises concerns that Chirla may be misusing federal funds to support violent criminal activities that obstruct federal immigration law enforcement,” the letter states, noting that some of the funds were ostensibly allocated for initiatives like “civil rights guidance and naturalization services” and “innovative citizenship education.”
Signed by House Attorney Speaker Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and two subcommittee chairs, Tom McClintock (R-CA) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ), the letter demands that Chirla submit “all documents and communications” related to the federal funds it has received. The committee is also asking for a comprehensive breakdown of how these funds were utilized.
Additionally, they are requesting details about any financial contributions received by the group from January 20, 2021, to the present day.
Chirla had organized a rally as protests against ICE intensified in Los Angeles. These protests turned violent earlier this month when immigrants clashed with federal agents, resulting in around 150 arrests.
Demonstrators vandalized public property and set cars on fire, prompting President Trump to deploy roughly 4,000 National Guard members and about 700 active Marines to restore order.
A spokesperson for Chirla previously mentioned that the organization held a press conference and provided legal support to observers at immigration courts and detention centers but denied involvement in the violent protests beyond these events.
The spokesperson stated, “We were not part of the protests registered in Los Angeles other than the press conference and meetings mentioned above, and were not coordinating anything else.”
Financial records obtained by DatarePublican indicate that Chirla received about $34 million in government grants, predominantly from California, for the fiscal year ending in June 2023. This included a grant of approximately $450,000 for “Citizen Education and Training” from the Department of Homeland Security, covering the period from October 2021 to September 2024. The group had also protested earlier this month.
Notably, under the Trump administration, federal agencies severed ties with Chirla, and funding ceased in March, which includes close to $101,000 that had not yet been disbursed.
Authorities predict that the costs associated with the riots may exceed $30 million.
The committee has given Chirla a deadline of July 8 to comply with its requests. Emails sent to Chirla’s communications director have not been responded to as of yet.
