Republican Senator Calls for Investigation into L.A. Immigrant Rights Group

LOS ANGELES, California — On Wednesday, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri threatened to investigate the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, alleging it has financed civil unrest. In a letter addressed to Angelica Salas, the organization’s director, Hawley claimed credible reports indicate that the coalition provided logistical support and funds to individuals involved in recent protests.

Hawley demanded that the group “cease and desist any further involvement in the organization, funding, or promotion of these unlawful activities,” stating that bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech and equates to aiding criminal conduct. Salas refuted these allegations, defending the coalition’s long history of nonviolent advocacy for immigrant rights.

“These accusations are false and a diversion from the real issue,” Salas said. “This is about the pain and suffering this administration is causing.” She described a concerted effort by the federal government to undermine immigrant rights organizations while persecuting those who support immigrants in their communities.

The controversy follows an announcement from House Committee on Homeland Security leaders, Mark E. Green and Josh Brecheen, that they would launch investigations into 200 non-governmental organizations that allegedly assisted inadmissible aliens during what they term a border crisis initiated by the Biden-Harris administration.

In a related incident, David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union California and a partner of the coalition, was arrested last week on suspicion of interfering with federal operations. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that union activists have been implicated in efforts to obstruct federal enforcement.

Salas stated that advocates are committed to continuing their work despite facing federal scrutiny and threats. “What they want to do is silence us and not allow us to expose what is happening to those impacted by these policies,” she claimed. Lindsay Toczylowski, co-founder of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, echoed Salas’s concerns about the targeted attacks on immigrant rights advocates.

Salas also noted increased hostility toward advocacy groups following the heightened enforcement actions that the federal government has been carrying out, creating an atmosphere of fear among immigrant communities. “This is not normal,” she concluded, highlighting the danger posed by such government actions to civil rights.