06/19/2025
Financial Scrutiny of NGOs and Their Role in Immigration-Related Activities
Overview of NGO Funding and Activities
• FOLLOWING THE MONEY IN CALIFORNIA: Investigation Into The Funding Of ICE Riots Shows that 5 NGO's Received $73.6 Million From Gavin Newsom In State Funds & $934.9 Million in Federal Funds over a two-year period
• The NGO's that received tens of millions in taxpayer dollars are immigration-focused NGOs primarily 501(c)(3) charities.
• According to the investigation by Open The Books - they fight deportations, track and publish ICE activities, and advocate for open-border policies, which the article says undermines federal immigration enforcement.
Specific NGOs and Their Financial Data
• These organizations include: The Immigrant Legal Resource Center ($29.5 million), Immigrant Defenders Law Center ($19 million), California Immigrant Resilience Fund ($14.2 million), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights ($7.4 million), and Central American Resource Center ($3.5 million)
• These NGOs also give free legal aid to illegal migrants and offer cash to illegal migrants including those with criminal backgrounds.
• For example, the Immigrant Defenders Law Center represented illegal migrants with serious convictions, such as murder and domestic violence, in deportation cases.
Federal Funding Sources
• According to the investigation, The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), under the Department of Health and Human Services, also funneled significant federal grants - taxpayer dollars - to these NGOs.
• For example, the International Rescue Committee received $598 million since 2020, and another $336.9 million in 2023–2024.
Criticism and Transparency Concerns
• The Open the Books investigation says that these NGOs, funded by taxpayer dollars, engage in politically charged anti-federal authority activities like advocating to “dismantle the arrest-to-deportation pipeline.”
• It also highlights public backlash like the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles saying organized riots are possibly fueled by these NGOs.
• OpenTheBooks says they used forensic auditing and Freedom of Information Act requests, while criticizing the lack of transparency in how state and federal funds are handed out to NGOs.
Exploitation of Nonprofit Status
• The investigation asserts that the nonprofit status of these organizations is most likely being exploited, with taxpayer dollars supporting high salaries and political agendas rather than charitable work
