At the center of the dispute is the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and its political arm, the CHIRLA Action Fund, which formally endorsed Becerra for governor on April 13. California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is escalating accusations against his Democrat rival Xavier Becerra, claiming a taxpayer-funded nonprofit is helping build a political ground game powered by immigrant communities, including those without legal status.
At the center of the dispute is the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and its political arm, the CHIRLA Action Fund, which formally endorsed Becerra for governor on April 13.
Hilton, pointing to findings from the California Department of Government Efficiency (CAL DOGE), alleges the group is benefiting from millions in public funding while engaging in political organizing tied to Becerra’s campaign.
“NEW FROM CAL DOGE: California taxpayer $$$ funding illegal immigrants to campaign for Xavier Becerra, in violation of federal law,” Hilton wrote on X.
CAL DOGE is an anti-fraud and waste-cutting initiative launched on Jan. 26 by Hilton to root out corruption in the state government.
A document highlighted in the investigation outlines what it calls a “pipeline” approach: beginning with immigration legal services such as DACA renewals and naturalization, then moving individuals into civic engagement activities like voter registration and mobilization.
The same materials describe efforts to “create as many citizens as possible” and to build a new voter base capable of influencing state politics.
Organizers are said to target newly naturalized citizens and maintain repeated outreach, “4–7 pre-election contacts per voter,” through canvassers described as “ranging in status from undocumented to LPR (lawful permanent resident).”
The CHIRLA Action Fund ultimately endorses candidates and spends to support them, according to the outline.
CAL DOGE claims this structure effectively links taxpayer-funded services to political activity, alleging that individuals without legal work authorization are being paid to participate in campaign-related outreach.
CHIRLA disputes that characterization, saying any public funds it receives are strictly limited to legal services and social support programs, not political or protest work.
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.”
The group has also described its strategy as building a “civic pipeline” that moves participants from immigration assistance into voter engagement and political mobilization.
“Xavier Becerra cannot continue to accept support from a taxpayer-funded organization employing illegal immigrants to campaign for him,” Hilton said as he revealed the allegations outside a CHIRLA office in Santa Ana.
Hilton and CAL DOGE are now calling for investigations into whether state or federal laws were violated, including whether employers improperly compensated individuals not authorized to work in the United States and whether taxpayer dollars indirectly supported partisan activity.
The controversy comes as Becerra, a former US Health and Human Services Secretary under President Joe Biden, leads polling ahead of the June 2 primary and faces intensifying attacks from opponents.
Criticism has also surfaced from within Democratic circles.
After a recent debate, former Justice Department official Xochitl Hinojosa said during a CNN panel: “After working in Joe Biden’s administration, I do not trust Xavier Becerra to do that. I don’t think he’ll be able to stand up to Trump and lead.”
Becerra’s campaign has not directly responded to the specific allegations.
