By PEDRO GONZALEZ
The Mexican flag is something of a rare sight in Anchorage. But last week, protestors draped in its colors marched along snow-covered streets to protest President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. They carried signs reading “Nadie es illegal,” which translates into: “No one is illegal.”
But resistance requires more than just cardboard sloganeering, and these demonstrators are often supported by a network of firms that offer legal assistance and aid, like the Alaska Institute for Justice.
Offering low-cost or even free legal representation is, in a certain respect, noble. The problem is that these organizations are using taxpayer dollars to essentially frustrate federal law enforcement efforts. It’s another issue that the Trump administration has taken up.
In January, the Department of Justice instructed service providers to “stop work immediately” on federally funded programs that provide legal guidance and support to people facing deportation. The move, which was eventually rolled back, followed an executive order that directed the secretary of Homeland Security to review funding provided to organizations “supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens.”
Alaska Institute for Justice seems to fit that description, as it offers legal representation for “immigrants who are in removal (deportation) proceedings,” the group’s website states.
According to a recent audit, Alaska Institute for Justice received 33 percent and 16 percent of its support and revenue from federal grants for 2023 and 2024, respectively.
In 2023, Alaska Institute for Justice received nearly $690,000 in governmental support from the Department of Justice. Last year, it was awarded $942,700 by Justice and Health and Human Services.
“A significant reduction in this support would have a substantial impact on AIJ,” the audit states.
Maybe so, but no one should be forced to subsidize organizations whose missions might run contrary to their views and, indeed, their votes.
Immigration was and is a top issue for Americans. A CBS News poll last week found that 59 percent of respondents said they agreed with the Trump administration’s “program to find and deport immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.”
It is hard to believe that those same people would also approve of having their tax dollars used to undermine that effort.
Pedro Gonzalez writes for Must Read Alaska.
As a taxpayer, I do not consent to using any taxpayer funds to provide aid to illegal immigration activities. There are legal ways to enter United States of America. Breaking the law is breaking the law and anyone aiding lawbreakers is also breaking the law. Time for law and order. It would be so much simpler if illegals just agreed to leave. Give them a free ride back to their country if they turn themselves in.
Biden should be ashamed of himself for the humanitarian crisis he and his puppet masters created with open borders. Setting up so many illegals for human trafficking, slavery, drug mules, or worse.
Ditto.
^^^100%
ICE should have hit that.
That’s a legitimate Alaska DOGE find right there. Great work!
They are INVADERS funded by our “government” through our taxes and inflation. The people behind all of this need to be arrested and deported along with them.
It is a Felony to illegally enter our country.
Deport the illegal alien felony third world invaders – AND – their “dreamer” kids.
Trump won.
We can speak the truth.
Gitmo
> They carried signs reading “Nadie es illegal,” which translates into: “No one is illegal.”
Illegal aliens are illegal and need to go asap. They also ought to be banned from legal entry for some time.
I want to know where the children who were trafficked are. The numbers range from 100,000 to 500,000. I heard Homan say several times this is a priority, but have heard very little since inauguration. Find them- or I should write Rescue Them.
“…….They also ought to be banned from legal entry for some time……..”
My understanding is that if they’re caught in the country illegally, future applications for legal entry are barred…….as they should be.
Any individual who enters our country without passport, visa or approved immigration documents has entered illegally and should be deported. They are essentially invaders and potentially dangerous as we know nothing about them. ‘Nadie es illegal’ chanting and signage is simply more leftist gaslighting. The Biden regime aided and abetted an invasion and those involved in furthering the ‘attack’ such as the Alaska Institute for Justice (Justice for whom?) should be held accountable.
The problem is when the NGO is awarded for valid and proper services, but the award description is broad enough to cover services that may not be proper.
Per USASpending.gov, the AIJ has three awards currently unexpired. The first one’s covers 10/1/2024 through 9/30/27. The award is titled, “Services for Trafficking Victims.” Description starts as follows: “THIS AWARD TO ALASKA INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE (AIJ) WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF DIRECT SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED IMMIGRANTS IN ALASKA… DIRECT SERVICES WILL INCLUDE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, PERSONAL ADVOCACY, CRISIS INTERVENTION, SAFETY PLANNING, REFERRAL FOR SHELTER, EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT, AND SKILL-BUILDING SERVICES…” The other two awards cover 10/1/22 – 9/30/25. The second award has the same title and its description includes ” WITH OVC FUNDING, AIJ WILL PROVIDE SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES INCLUDING IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE… THESE SERVICES WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS SPECIALIZED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO APPLY FOR IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING CONTINUED PRESENCE, WORK AUTHORIZATION AND U AND T VISAS.” The third award is for victims of sexual violence and the award description appears to truly reflect that work.
Dang. 10 minutes of research and you’ve had a greater discovery than the entire doge alaska team had over the course of a week.
I can’t believe how much groceries and fuel have dropped since he made these strong moves.
Right. 3 weeks is much too long ! In fact Trump should have fixed the problem back in the summer of last year……oh wait…..
Anyone who thinks prices will drop quickly is just wrong the inflation caused by Biden is baked in and will take a long time to go away if ever. However I’d the price of energy goes down many items will follow but still not quickly
LOL…….nice try. He has four years to make a difference, and there is nil chance of you guys screwing this up with silly legal maneuvers now. I don’t expect prices to go down anytime soon. In fact, I expect all Hell to arrive soon.
Pay up, or do without…………..
Take a close look at Alaska Legal Services as well
Thank you for finding this Pres. Trump. And thank you for finding it MRAK. Keep up the good work.
I keep thinking about what the founding fathers meant when they wrote the first paragraph of the first act of congress back in the 1790s.
Opening the border to infinity 3rd worlders and paying so much in taxes & welfare for these 80 iq dregs of the planet that heritage Americans cannot afford to have kids or buy a house is the foundation of this nation.
George Washington is smiling down from heaven as the entire country is handed over to people who couldn’t make their own countries have treated drinking water and heat in the winter.
It’s time to Bring Ice to Alaska, and start deporting the illegals.
If you LOVE the U.S🇺🇸 and want to stay here, why would you drape yourself in Your Mexico Flag?
Sounds to me if you LOVED our country so much you would support the American Flag.
Time to go home and start making your country good.
and print your sign in English!