The Chinese-American Planning Council has CCP ties and is under congressional investigation
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer is seeking taxpayer funds for a left-wing group facing a congressional investigation for advising illegal aliens how to evade federal immigration agents.
The New York Democrat requested $600,000 for the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), a New York City-based nonprofit, as part of the congressionally directed spending program, according to documents his office released last week. Members of Congress submit the spending requests each year for causes “reflecting their federal funding priorities,” according to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Schumer’s request for CPC comes as Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee are investigating the organization as part of a probe “into the potential use of federal funds by NGOs to facilitate illegal immigration.” Reps. Mark Green (R., Tenn.) and Josh Brecheen (R., Okla.) launched the investigation in April after an undercover video showed CPC chief policy officer Carlyn Cowen advising a group of illegal aliens how to evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Cowen advised attendees of the March 8 training session on “hardening your physical space,” “identifying a list of individuals authorized to respond if ICE comes to the door,” and “training everybody who’s going to be involved,” according to the video, which was released by the Oversight Project. Cowen advised restaurant workers to use an electronic alert system to inform other employees of the presence of “La Migra,” or immigration agents.
CPC, founded in 1965, has received more than $1.4 million through the congressionally directed spending program since 2022, according to federal spending records. The organization has also received donations from organizations linked to the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party, the Daily Caller reported.
Schumer’s request comes as Democrats struggle to find their footing on the immigration issue following the party’s disastrous losses in November. According to a CBS poll released this week, 54 percent of Americans support President Donald Trump’s deportation initiative. Forty-two percent believe the program makes America safer, compared to just 30 percent who believe it makes the country less safe.
Schumer is not the only Senate Democrat seeking taxpayer dollars for organizations that promote ICE evasion tactics.
Sen. Alex Padilla, the California Democrat who was briefly detained at a press conference for Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, requested $2 million last month for the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles, according to his office. CHIRLA, as the group is known, has called to “abolish” ICE, and was a lead organizer of the anti-ICE protests that devolved into riots in Los Angeles last week. Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) launched an investigation into whether CHIRLA is funding the violent protests. CHIRLA has denied the claim.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) requested $500,000 for CHIRLA as well, according to his congressionally directed spending disclosures.
Schumer’s office did not respond to a request for comment.