Missouri Senator Targets CHIRLA, PSL, and Unión del Barrio in Investigation of Protest Financing
At least one U.S. senator has announced a formal investigation into the money behind the coordinated, anti-ICE protests spreading across the nation. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced this week a formal, public investigation into the funding of anti-ICE protests that have spread to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and St. Louis, escalating into violent riots. Hawley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, alleges the unrest is orchestrated, telling advertisers, “This is not spontaneous, and the proof of that is the riots are spreading to Chicago, to St. Louis. Somebody is paying for all of this, and we’ve got to get to the bottom of it.”
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The initial probe targets three organizations—Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), and Unión del Barrio (UD)—suspected of bankrolling and coordinating the protests. Hawley’s letters to the groups demand financial records, communications, contracts, travel logs, and donor lists, warning that “bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech” and threatening subpoenas or criminal referrals for non-compliance.
The protests, sparked by ICE’s illegal immigration enforcement, have sparked violent protests. Clashes in Los Angeles prompted National Guard deployment, and Trump has called for arrests of “professional agitators.” Hawley points to the protests’ rapid spread as evidence of coordination with further plans this weekend.
CHIRLA, a Los Angeles-based immigrant rights group, is a key focus. IRS filings show it received $34 million in government grants, including $750,000 from the Biden administration, though federal funding has since been cut. CHIRLA’s Rapid Response Network, a hotline alerting immigrants to ICE raids, has drawn scrutiny. Executive Director Angelica Salas denied allegations of funding unrest, calling the investigation “an attack on our democratic values” meant to silence advocacy. “Our work is non-violent and community-focused,” Salas said.
PSL, a Marxist-Leninist group, and UD, a Southern California community organization, are also under investigation. Neither has publicly responded, and details linking them to riots remain scarce. Hawley’s claims cite “credible reporting,” but critics, including First Amendment advocate David Loy, warn the probe could chill protected speech without clear evidence of illegal activity.
The investigation coincides with a House probe into 200 NGOs, including CHIRLA, for allegedly misusing taxpayer funds to aid illegal immigration.
