CHIRLA, which is under investigation, has received funding not only by the Biden administration, but has close relations with the Church.
By Catholics for Catholics
A non-profit organization that is suspected of bankrolling the protestors (not the looting) of the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles has strong ties to that city’s Archdiocese and to a national Catholic organization.
During this week’s episode of The Catholic Champion show with CforC’s President, John Yep, Michael Hichborn, President of the Lepanto Institute, said that the Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights, better known as CHIRLA, has had a long, deep relationship with the Archdiocese, which is even mentioned in their website.
“So, one of the nonprofits of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles recommends it to work with CHIRLA, the far-left Marxist organization?” Yep asked Hichborn.
“Yes,” Hichborn responded. “That is correct.”
According to Hichborn, CHIRLA, which was formed in 1986, became one of the most noteworthy immigrant rights organizations ever since Father Luis Olivares, the pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels, one of the most notorious figures in the Sanctuary movement, was CHIRLA’s first director.
“CHIRLA became a place for organizations and people who support human rights to work together for policies that advance justice and full inclusion for all immigrants,” according to CHIRLA’s website.
But along the way CHIRLA became a more hardcore Marxist group, Hichborn said. He added that the group, along with other left-wing organizations, have received funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
“All of those organizations have received funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development,” Hichborn said. “We have had CCHD grantees marching to defund the police riots. We have seen CCHD grantees marching for Black Lives Matters riots. So, all of this stuff is coming from the Catholic Campaign to promote this Marxist revolution.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo), started an investigation on CHIRLA, saying he believes the organization may be economically supporting the violent riots in Los Angeles, according to Fox News. He wrote a letter to them, telling them that they have an alleged role in financially and materially supporting” protests and riots in Los Angeles, which he described as “coordinated.”
“Who is funding the LA riots? This violence isn’t spontaneous. As chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime & Terrorism, I’m launching an investigation to find out,” Hawley announced on social media.
Who is funding the LA riots? This violence isn’t spontaneous. As chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime & Terrorism, I’m launching an investigation to find out – pic.twitter.com/B4qaN8qbZP
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 11, 2025
Hichborn said that “the incestuous relationship among these networks is so stark, they work for each other, they sit on each other, they share funding with each other. All of this is being coordinated from the top.” He said that though peaceful and just social and political movement is good, there is no room for violence.
“This whole movement, this idea that we need to be marching to the streets, throwing rocks at police cars is nothing short of revolution,” Hichborn said. “The Catholic Church cannot participate in that.”
Watch the full segment!
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