SANTA ANA, Calif. — Steve Hilton and CAL DOGE today demanded answers after records showed that CHIRLA Action Fund, part of the CHIRLA network that has received approximately $72 million in taxpayer funding over the last three years, is paying illegal immigrants to campaign for Xavier Becerra for governor.
According to public records highlighted in a recent CAL DOGE investigation, CHIRLA and affiliated entities received roughly $25.6 million in taxpayer funding in 2024 alone.
CHIRLA’s own political organizing materials describe election canvassers “ranging in status from undocumented to lawful permanent residents” making “4-7 pre-election contacts per voter” as part of its voter mobilization efforts.
CHIRLA Action Fund formally endorsed Becerra for governor on April 13 and pledged to help elect him in both the primary and general election.
CHIRLA Action Fund President Angelica Salas said:
“We are here today to make our endorsement public and to announce that we will work hard to get him elected on June 2, 2026, for the primary and then on to November.”
CHIRLA and CHIRLA Action Fund have also described building what they call a “civic pipeline” moving individuals from immigration services and naturalization into voter registration and political mobilization activities.
“Californians are learning that a taxpayer-funded activist network is openly working to elect Xavier Becerra governor,” said Steve Hilton. “Taxpayers have every right to be outraged that Democrats are funneling tens of millions of dollars to organizations using illegal immigrants as part of their political operation.”
California families are struggling with the highest gas prices in America, an affordability crisis, and rising utility bills. Yet Democrats continue directing taxpayer money to activist organizations deeply involved in partisan political activity.
Hilton and CAL DOGE also called for state and federal authorities to determine whether CHIRLA Action Fund or affiliated entities violated employment laws by compensating individuals who are not legally authorized to work in the United States. Federal law generally prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, raising additional questions about the organization’s political canvassing operation.
They further called for a full review of taxpayer funding flowing to organizations engaged in political operations, including whether sufficient safeguards exist to ensure public dollars are not subsidizing partisan political activity carried out by illegal immigrants.