A new watchdog report reveals that California’s Democrat-controlled state legislature has funneled more than $73 million in taxpayer dollars to far-left immigration activist groups since 2023—many of which actively work to obstruct federal deportation efforts and track Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
The analysis, conducted by the budget transparency group Open the Books, highlights how five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) received millions in public funds while openly engaging in political and legal efforts thwarting federal immigration enforcement — including identifying ICE agent activity and even filing lawsuits against the state itself.
Topping the list is the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), which received $35.2 million in state funding over the past two years. CHIRLA, based in Los Angeles, has made headlines for its efforts to track ICE agents, mobilize protests, and run activist training programs in public high schools.
Among its initiatives is “WiseUp!,” a campaign targeting high school students — including illegal immigrant minors — to train them in political activism. According to CHIRLA’s website, the program’s goal is to “organize high school students—both undocumented and allies—around immigrant rights” and “activate students” to fight for policy changes that expand access to education and citizenship.
CHIRLA has also set up a public tip line to report ICE activity in real time, a system that has led to the rapid deployment of activists — and, in some cases, violent agitators — at ICE operation sites in Los Angeles.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) came in second, raking in $29.8 million in taxpayer funds. The group provides legal aid to illegal immigrants, including those with criminal records, and has openly stated its mission to “dismantle the arrest-to-deportation pipeline.”
Many of these organizations, despite receiving substantial taxpayer support, frequently file lawsuits against the state of California — seeking more benefits, halting removals, or opposing state-federal cooperation on immigration enforcement.
The watchdog group warned that the state’s funding of activist immigration groups may be contributing to the current wave of protests and riots across California cities, particularly Los Angeles, where recent immigration raids led to violent clashes and destruction of property.
The revelations come at a time when tensions are high between state and federal authorities over immigration policy. President Donald Trump has deployed federal agents and National Guard troops to assist in immigration enforcement in cities like Los Angeles, prompting legal challenges from California officials.
Critics argue that while public funds should support lawful immigration services and due process, the state’s current spending strategy crosses the line into political advocacy and obstruction of federal law.
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Probably another version of USAID to enrich politicians pockets or reelection campaigns.
So we’ve finally progressed to the point where individual states are challenging the powers of the federal government, just like our formative government challenged the British regime back in the 1700’s. Next we’ll see like-minded states banding together to increase their political power and exposure. Obviously they don’t want to secede from our great country. That would be like kicking a newly birthed animal from the protection of its parents. As long as they can suckle the cow, the calves will stick around to take advantage of it as long as possible. It’s not until the bulls mature to full size and power that they will seek to terminate their relationship with the federal government. They can’t survive on their own now and we need to make sure that they never reach that level of power. So it has become the USA versus the liberal states. Perhaps we should cut them loose now and see how long they can survive on their own.