CHIRLA continues to fundraise for legal defense and emergency services for those affected by ICE raids

Supporting families impacted by the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles was the north star behind a fundraising event hosted by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). The event, held on Wednesday night at the Pico Union Project, gathered people from all over L.A. to raise funds that will be used for CHIRLA’s legal defense and emergency services.

The event gathered more than $40,000 in the span of three hours, according to Areli Hernandez, CHIRLA’s director of executive affairs, who announced it at the event. 

“For 39 years, CHIRLA has walked the journey with immigrants in their demand for civil and labor rights, but most of all for human rights. CHIRLA’s mission is to create a just society that is fully inclusive of immigrants, a society that we see through progress in our city, in the state and in the nation, because that is what needs to change and immigrants should be part of it,” Hernandez said. 

The event and the performers all touched upon the series of immigration raids that have taken place in L.A. in the last month, many of which have been conducted by undercover ICE agents unwilling to identify themselves and who have racially profiled citizens.  

“The moments we are living in L.A. will define the city and will define the nation. This moment that we are living is a moment unlike any other. Citizens and immigrants have rights and that is what we continue to affirm,” Hernandez added. 

According to their website, CHIRLA uses its funds for various forms of relief and assistance. Wednesday’s fundraising aimed to gather specific funds for people affected by the ICE raids. Some of the money gathered will help the undocumented community of L.A. with direct cash assistance, referrals to other relief programs and support for essential expenses like rent, food and transportation. Funds will also provide legal services to protect immigrant rights.

Eunisses Hernandez, councilmember of L.A.’s Council District 1, was also present at the event. “CD-1 is made up of 22 neighborhoods with large populations of immigrant communities,” she told CALÓ News. Hernandez also said CHIRLA is restoring a building in CD-1 to be able to provide immigration services to the community. “I’m really grateful that CD-1 is a home to CHIRLA,” she said.

Recently, the organization that was founded in 1986 and now one of the largest immigrant rights organizations in the country,  was accused of having an "alleged role in financing and materially supporting the coordinated protests and riots that have engulfed Los Angeles in recent weeks,” according to a letter sent by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. 

Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA, denounced these allegations. “We categorically reject any allegation that our work as an organization now and during the past 39 years, providing services to immigrants and their families, violates the law,” she said. “Our mission is rooted in non-violent advocacy, community safety and democratic values. We will not be intimidated for standing with immigrant communities and documenting the inhumane manner that our community is being targeted with the assault by the raids, the unconstitutional and illegal arrests and detentions and the assault on our First Amendment rights.”

One of the event's featured speakers was Ysabel Jurado, councilmember of Council District 14. The former tenants' rights attorney, affordable housing activist and single mom spoke about being a daughter of undocumented Filipino immigrants. “We are here because we want ICE out of L.A.,” she said. “We want our communities to stop being paralyzed by fear.” 

Jurado also described what she witnessed during visits to different places in the city, including Santee Alley and the downtown area. She said she has talked to people working in these places that were once vibrant and full of people, who are now afraid to go outside. 

She also celebrated the many people who attended the fundraiser in times like these. “That's why you are all here and giving your money, because we need to make sure that organizations like CHIRLA can do their job,” she said.

The event was hosted by Steve Hernandez, a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian, writer and actor, best known as the founder and producer of Chatterbox Comedy Night. 

The special musical guest of the night was Muna, a queer indie pop band consisting of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson. They performed an acoustic set while reminding attendees of the importance of joining and plugging in to a social justice organization.