Democrat-connected, taxpayer-funded organizations that received millions in government contracts played key roles in organizing violent riots against federal immigration enforcement that has brought Los Angeles to a standstill for three consecutive days, according to financial records and investigative findings.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), which received $34 million from government contracts in fiscal year 2023, was reportedly involved in escalating demonstrations after ICE raids Friday morning arrested over 100 illegal immigrants, including gang members and drug traffickers.
Angelica Salas, Executive Director of CHIRLA, held a press conference calling for broad demonstrations against ICE after violent protesters had already impeded federal officers at a Home Depot staging location in Paramount and outside the targeted business downtown. SEIU California President David Huerta was arrested for interfering with federal officers during the initial confrontations.
Attorney Laura Powell’s investigation into CHIRLA’s funding revealed that 75.5 percent of the organization’s $45 million total revenue for 2023 came from taxpayers. Most of that government funding came from the State of California, with contributions from the California Department of Social Services, the California Arts Council, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Homeland Security.
“To sum up how this works: Your tax dollars fund an organization that organizes efforts to directly interfere with the federal government’s lawful exercise of authority,” Powell concluded. “Then, through its lobbying arm, that organization helps get Democrats elected to office, who then repay the favor by ensuring increased funding.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass secured a $450,000 federal grant for CHIRLA from her former colleague, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
On August 30, 2024, Bass announced the grant, stating, “The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Clínica Romero, and the Central American Resource Center have been on the frontlines providing assistance to new immigrant arrivals in our city. I want to thank Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security for their partnership and for providing these organizations in the L.A. region with support to provide life-saving assistance.”
When Donald Trump took office, $100,000 remained on the grant. DHS froze the funding, CHIRLA sued, then DHS canceled the contract and the lawsuit was dropped.
CHIRLA operates an “Immigrant Welcome and Empowerment Center” in downtown Los Angeles that Bass toured in May 2024. The organization runs programs including the “LA Raids Rapid Response Network” which focuses on direct action to shut down detention centers and connecting illegal immigrants facing deportation to legal representation.
Other taxpayer-funded CHIRLA programs include “Wise Up!” which mentors high school students in 15 Los Angeles schools, and the “California Dream Network” that mobilizes college students in 30 California colleges and universities around illegal immigration reform and boasts 5,000 veteran leaders.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation also played a role in organizing the protests, which featured hundreds of activists who quickly turned into thousands of rioters.
Over the last three days, demonstrators have burned cars, thrown rocks and fireworks at Border Patrol vehicles, spray painted graffiti on federal buildings including slogans like “KILL ICE,” and blocked major freeways including the 101 in downtown LA. Videos and photos on social media showed extensive property destruction and violence against federal officers.
President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles after the violence erupted. The troops used pepper spray and flash bangs to disperse crowds after being hit with thrown objects, and are expected to remain stationed in LA County for up to 60 days.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, said California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Bass could face federal charges for their responses to the ICE raids.
Homan said the Department of Justice “may seek criminal charges” against state or local officials who obstruct federal immigration enforcement. Anyone who “crosses that line” could face felony charges for obstruction, he warned.
Bass publicly criticized Trump’s National Guard deployment, calling it a “chaotic escalation” and stating, “The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real – it’s felt in our communities and within our families and it puts our neighborhoods at risk. This is the last thing that our city needs, and I urge protestors to remain peaceful.”
Despite the extensive violence and property destruction, Bass declared on social media Friday, “We will not stand for this” and “No vamos a permitir estas acciones” (“We are not going to permit these actions”). She added that her office would collaborate with the taxpayer-funded organizations that serve illegal immigrants.
Trump announced he is directing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to take all necessary actions to end the riots. He pledged to restore order, expel illegal immigrants, and “liberate” the city from what he called a “Migrant Invasion.”