The House Judiciary Committee has launched an investigation into the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), scrutinizing the non-profit's potential involvement in the Los Angeles anti-ICE riots earlier this month. According to the House Judiciary Committee, the committee is concerned that the nearly $1 million in grants from the Biden administration to CHIRLA may have been misused to instigate the violent demonstrations that caused significant destruction throughout the city.
As the riots unfolded, which resulted in extensive damage and a hefty multi-million dollar bill for taxpayers, the probe digs into the heart of how CHIRLA has allocated federal funds over the years. CHIRLA, a group with historical ties to the Democratic Party, reportedly received close to $34 million in government grants in the fiscal year ending June 2023, primarily from the state of California. This significant increase from the $12 million received the previous year raises questions about the nature of their financial management.
In a letter outlined by the committee, CHIRLA was tasked to hand over "all documents and communications" tied to the federal funding received, as well as a thorough accounting of its spending, including related supporting documentation. The committee also demands to know about any monetary interactions CHIRLA had with other non-governmental organizations from January 20, 2021. The House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other subcommittee chairmen spearhead the inquiry, aiming to uncover whether there's any truth to the procurement of these riots through federal funds ostensibly earmarked for "citizenship instruction and naturalization services" and "innovations in citizenship education," per the House Judiciary Committee.
The timing of the investigation is critical, as CHIRLA had organized events coinciding with the protests. Denying further involvement beyond a press event on June 5 and legal observation activities through June 6-8, CHIRLA stated, per the House Judiciary Committee, "We have not participated, coordinated, or been part of the protests being registered in Los Angeles other than the press conference and rally cited above," as per a spokesman for the organization. However, these engagements occurred as President Trump's sanctioned deportation raids spurred unrest, drawing attention to CHIRLA's actions and funding amidst the public dissidence.
Previously, under Trump's administration, CHIRLA's federal support was severed with the Department of Homeland Security halting any forthcoming grants in March and reclaiming unissued funds, totaling around $101,000. The group had also received around $450,000 in grants for citizenship education and training from DHS between October 2021 and September 2024, which only adds layers of complexity as DHS itself was a target of the protests. In the wake of the anti-ICE riots demanding extensive spending on reparations, the city of Los Angeles reels from the financial hit that is estimated to surpass $30 million.
