A discussion between Katie Pavlich and investigative journalist Jennifer Van Laar has brought renewed attention to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), with claims surrounding its funding sources and alleged involvement in organizing anti-ICE activities.

Pavlich introduced the topic by describing the group’s role in recent protests.

“Now back to California, where a group similar to the SPLC is posing as an immigration advocacy group, when in reality it's sparking anti ice protests on a taxpayer dime,” she said.

Pavlich pointed to specific actions taken by the organization, stating, “In June 2025 the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, called for 1000s of protesters to flood the streets of Los Angeles to impede targeted ICE raids.”

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She also referenced the group’s legislative involvement. “Now the group is sponsoring the Stop Nick Shirley Act,” Pavlich said, before asking, “So why sponsor a bill like this? What is the coalition so afraid of?”

Van Laar responded by outlining what she described as CHIRLA’s connections to activist networks.

“Because they have been funneling money into the LA raids Rapid Response Network,” she said.

She compared the network to other coordinated efforts, adding, “This is California's answer to that, where they've been Doxxing these ICE agents ever since the raid started just about a year ago.”

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According to Van Laar, the activities included tracking and harassment.

“They have been doing real time tracking,” she said.

Van Laar continued, “They've been taking pictures of the cars and the license plates and tracking them.”

She added, “They've been standing outside the hotels that they're staying at, banging pans all through the night and being on megaphone so that they can't sleep.”

Van Laar also connected the group to prior incidents involving protests.

“They are behind the groups that mobilized in Camarillo at the Glass House farms raid back last July,” she said.

She noted that during that event, “there were some pretty significant injuries that happened to ICE officers and one illegal immigrant died.”

The conversation then turned to funding. Pavlich questioned how such activities were financed.

“So CHIRLA is what this group is called, and we're always asking questions… How are these groups getting the funding to make these things happen?” she asked.

Pavlich added, “This particular group got billions of dollars, 10s of millions of dollars, in funding contracts.”

Van Laar responded by pointing to state funding allocations.

“Democrats in this, in the state agree with what they're doing,” she said.

She cited financial figures, stating, “They got in the fiscal year ending 2024 they got 25 out of their $30 million from the state of California.”

She explained how those funds were categorized. “Most of it is coded as Immigrant Services or immigrant relief or legal fees for immigrants,” Van Laar said.

She also described how the funds were allegedly used. “What they're doing is mobilizing activists on college campuses and having mentoring programs in high schools,” Van Laar said.

She added that the group was “organizing laborers through partnerships with SEIU and other labor unions to basically make them their activists and foot soldiers.”

Pavlich summarized the claim, asking, “So basically, they're getting taxpayer funds under the guise of Immigrant Services, and then they're turning around and using that money for violent protests to impede federal immigration investigations. Is that correct?” Van Laar responded, “Exactly.”

Van Laar further stated that the organization hosted additional activities tied to elections.

“They're even hosting things like one stop voting centers at their headquarters to do early voting for LA County,” she said.

The discussion also addressed connections between CHIRLA and federal agencies during the Biden administration.

Pavlich said, “One of the government contracts that was secured specifically by LA mayor Karen Bass with the Department of Homeland Security… has to do with this group.”

She asked for more details on that relationship.

Van Laar said, “That had to do with some of the Immigrant Services for humanitarian aid to all of these refugees that were coming across the border during Mayorkas reign.”

She added that the contract was later terminated.

“Once the Trump administration learned about this, they quickly terminated what was left of the contract,” she said.

Van Laar also raised questions about oversight.

“Who knows what those dollars were actually spent for, because no one in California looks at the fraud,” she said.

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