Jordan, McClintock, and Biggs Open Inquiry into Activist Groups Funding LA Riots with Taxpayer Grants
June 24, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH); Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA); and Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Chairman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) sent a letter to Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), demanding all documents, communications, and receipts regarding the organization's taxpayer-funded grants awarded by the Biden-Harris Administration to support its radical open-borders and soft-on-crime policies.
According to media reports, CHIRLA is one of the groups leading and funding the protests that broke out in Los Angeles, California after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials arrested illegal aliens, including individuals previously convicted of violent or otherwise dangerous crimes. During the Biden-Harris Administration, CHIRLA received taxpayer-funded grants worth nearly $1 million. This raises concerns that CHIRLA may be using federal funds to support violent criminal activity that impedes the enforcement of federal immigration law.
Congress has an important interest in ensuring that taxpayer-funded grants are used in a manner that is consistent with statutory authorization and congressional intent.
Read excerpts of the letter:
"On June 6, 2025, protests broke out in Los Angeles, California after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials arrested illegal aliens, including individuals previously convicted of violent or otherwise dangerous crimes such as willful cruelty to a child, sexual battery, cocaine trafficking, and assault. The protests quickly turned violent and continued for nearly two weeks. According to media reports, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is one of the groups leading and funding the protests. During the Biden-Harris Administration, CHIRLA received taxpayer-funded grants worth nearly $1 million. This raises concerns that CHIRLA may be using federal funds to support violent criminal activity that impedes the enforcement of federal immigration law. As part of our constitutional oversight responsibilities, we request your voluntary cooperation with our oversight of this matter.
"According to public records, CHIRLA received significant funding from the federal government during the Biden-Harris Administration. In September 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded CHIRLA a $450,000 grant for 'citizenship instruction and naturalization services.' In March 2025, the Trump Administration terminated the grant and sought to recoup approximately $100,000 in unobligated funds. DHS also awarded CHIRLA a $250,000 grant in 2021 for 'citizenship instruction and naturalization services,' and another $250,000 grant in 2022 for 'innovations in citizenship education.' In total, CHIRLA received federal grants worth a combined total of nearly $1 million from the Biden-Harris Administration. This is but one of many examples of the Biden-Harris Administration giving taxpayer funds to non-governmental organizations that supported its radical open borders and soft-on-crime policies."
Read the full letter to Angelica Salas here.
According to media reports, CHIRLA is one of the groups leading and funding the protests that broke out in Los Angeles, California after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials arrested illegal aliens, including individuals previously convicted of violent or otherwise dangerous crimes. During the Biden-Harris Administration, CHIRLA received taxpayer-funded grants worth nearly $1 million. This raises concerns that CHIRLA may be using federal funds to support violent criminal activity that impedes the enforcement of federal immigration law.
Congress has an important interest in ensuring that taxpayer-funded grants are used in a manner that is consistent with statutory authorization and congressional intent.
Read excerpts of the letter:
"On June 6, 2025, protests broke out in Los Angeles, California after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials arrested illegal aliens, including individuals previously convicted of violent or otherwise dangerous crimes such as willful cruelty to a child, sexual battery, cocaine trafficking, and assault. The protests quickly turned violent and continued for nearly two weeks. According to media reports, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is one of the groups leading and funding the protests. During the Biden-Harris Administration, CHIRLA received taxpayer-funded grants worth nearly $1 million. This raises concerns that CHIRLA may be using federal funds to support violent criminal activity that impedes the enforcement of federal immigration law. As part of our constitutional oversight responsibilities, we request your voluntary cooperation with our oversight of this matter.
"According to public records, CHIRLA received significant funding from the federal government during the Biden-Harris Administration. In September 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded CHIRLA a $450,000 grant for 'citizenship instruction and naturalization services.' In March 2025, the Trump Administration terminated the grant and sought to recoup approximately $100,000 in unobligated funds. DHS also awarded CHIRLA a $250,000 grant in 2021 for 'citizenship instruction and naturalization services,' and another $250,000 grant in 2022 for 'innovations in citizenship education.' In total, CHIRLA received federal grants worth a combined total of nearly $1 million from the Biden-Harris Administration. This is but one of many examples of the Biden-Harris Administration giving taxpayer funds to non-governmental organizations that supported its radical open borders and soft-on-crime policies."
Read the full letter to Angelica Salas here.
###