A new report released on Mar. 20 examines the network of nonprofit organizations that mobilized in response to federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota and California during late 2025 and early 2026. The report details how these groups, with combined annual revenues exceeding $425 million for the 35 organizations with available IRS data, coordinated rapid-response hotlines, legal challenges, and public demonstrations against policies such as Operation Metro Surge.
The findings highlight the scale and interconnectedness of advocacy efforts opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. According to the report, major immigrant advocacy organizations—including CASA (Casa de Maryland), UnidosUS, RAICES Texas, CHIRLA, Make the Road New York, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Asian Law Caucus, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and National Immigration Law Center—are among the largest players by revenue. Smaller groups like COPAL also exert influence through coalitions such as the Immigrant Defense Network.
Funding for these activities comes primarily from private donations and large foundations such as the Ford Foundation, Tides Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Democracy Alliance members. Many organizations operate without standalone employer identification numbers (EINs), relying on fiscal sponsorships or being hosted by larger entities like ACLU affiliates.
The report outlines how many of these groups frame their work using terms like “climate justice” or “economic justice,” often linking immigration enforcement opposition to broader campaigns including climate activism and pro-Palestinian solidarity. For example, Mijente’s annual blog documents participation in both anti-ICE campaigns and Palestinian solidarity actions. CASA’s executive director issued a statement expressing solidarity with Palestine before later deleting it following public criticism.
Several organizations participate across multiple issue areas: Indivisible Project coordinated No Kings protests nationwide while running campaigns targeting ICE; Detention Watch Network rallied support for detention abolition; UnidosUS integrated clean energy initiatives into its programming; CHIRLA developed a Climate Justice Department focused on immigrants affected by environmental issues; Make the Road New York linked immigration enforcement to economic inequality at events like the Make Billionaires Pay march during UN Climate Week.
The report concludes that this multi-issue infrastructure enables rapid national responses to local enforcement actions. It notes that alliances between immigrant rights advocates and other movements have created what it describes as a “rapid-response machine” capable of challenging federal policy through litigation, protest mobilization, and cross-movement partnerships.
