A new report highlights The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) as a central figure behind the recent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, where demonstrators clashed with authorities enforcing immigration laws. California attorney Laura Powell shared details on social media, accusing CHIRLA of using taxpayer funds to “foment violent responses” to federal immigration actions. According to Powell, CHIRLA leads the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network, which tracks ICE activity and mobilizes activists. She also linked CHIRLA to Mayor Karen Bass and powerful labor unions, noting that the organization has long taken radical stances, including leading a 2018 campaign to abolish ICE. Financial records show CHIRLA received $34 million in state funding in 2023, nearly triple the previous year, along with a $450,000 federal contract later revoked after a lawsuit.
Amid the protests, California Rep. Maxine Waters appeared at the scene, vocally opposing the National Guard’s presence, which President Trump had ordered in response to escalating violence. Waters confronted troops, questioning their readiness to use force and criticizing what she called an unjustified show of militarized authority in a sanctuary city. She emphasized that state officials, including the governor, were not consulted and accused Trump of using the situation to intimidate immigrant communities. Waters also attempted to enter the Los Angeles Federal Building to check on SEIU President David Huerta, who was arrested during a protest. The ongoing unrest has raised broader concerns about the influence of taxpayer-funded nonprofits in political activism and the federal government’s response to sanctuary city policies.
