The four suspects who are facing felony charges for allegedly using homemade spikes to flatten the tires of ICE vehicles in Los Angeles – to block ICE detentions – are connected to CHIRLA – according to police.
Authorities say Jenaro-Ernesto Ayala-43, Jude Jasmine Jeannine Allard- 28, Sadot Jarnica -54, and Daniel Montenegro – 30 were carrying tote bags that had the CHIRLA branding on it -and filled with more spike devices.
CHIRLA – Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights – is a major anti-ICE activist network in Los Angeles that operates as a non-profit providing legal services and advocacy to illegal migrants, including those with criminal convictions.
It has been linked to violent protests & riots against ICE.
CHIRLA has received about $34 million in taxpayer funding, primarily from California state grants, & smaller federal grants.
President Trump terminated funding for CHIRLA in March, and the organization is under investigation by Sen. Josh Hawley and the House Judiciary Committee for allegedly funding the anti-ICE riots that erupted in Los Angeles.
Historically, Gov. Gavin Newsom has allocated a large amount of taxpayer dollars for immigrant services, with $73.6 million going to anti-deportation groups in 2023-2024.
Newsom’s January 2024 proposal included $37 million for immigration services, and a February 2025 bill authorized $50 million in migrant aid, much of which was expected to benefit CHIRLA and similar groups – to help illegal migrants fight deportation.
Police say the CHIRLA-branded bags at the scene links CHIRLA to the crimes; however the group has denied participating in violent acts, saying it only organized a press event and sent legal observers.
