Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California has called for a ‘complete moratorium on all deportations’
Freshman Democratic Rep. Dave Min (Calif.) is seeking millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for a left-wing group that provides illegal aliens with tips and tricks to evade federal immigration agencies.
Min, considered one of the most vulnerable House Democrats running for reelection next year, requested $1.6 million for Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) as part of his annual Congressional Directed Spending request, which lawmakers submit each year for “legislative funding priorities.” AJSOCAL, based in Los Angeles, advises immigrants—including those in the United States illegally—how to avoid encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, according to how-to guides published on its website.
In one document, the group advises illegal immigrants against answering questions “related to where you were born or how you entered the U.S.” And it counsels illegal aliens against carrying paperwork showing they are from outside the United States. “If you do not have legal status in the U.S. do not carry any foreign documents on you,” the group said, warning followers to “Get valid ID but DO NOT carry a foreign passport.”
Min, a former California state senator, is the latest Democrat to boost groups using controversial tactics to thwart the Trump administration’s deportation initiatives. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) requested $600,000 for the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPL), an activist group that is under congressional investigation for advising illegal aliens to evade ICE, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Republicans, who view the administration’s deportation programs to be a winning political issue, have accused Min of “stand[ing] with violent illegal criminals over Californians” after he criticized ICE raids in Los Angeles earlier this month. House Republicans are spending heavily to unseat Min, who won his race last year by just 10,000 votes.
AJSOCAL’s anti-ICE activities could put it in the crosshairs of congressional investigators, who have ramped up investigations into taxpayer-funded groups that advise ways to evade ICE. Republicans on the House Committee on Homeland Security opened an investigation in April into federal contracts to the CPL, the group supported by Schumer. Rep. Josh Brecheen (R., Okla.), who is leading the investigation into the CPL, said Schumer’s support for the group “undermine[s] our nation’s sovereignty and security.”
In January, the Biden administration awarded $2.2 million to AJSOCAL as part of a federal “eviction prevention grant program” to help “people of color” and “people with limited English proficiency” avoid eviction.
Min’s office did not respond to a request for comment.