IRLI Investigation Finds CASA de Maryland Violating Non-Profit Laws against Political Advocacy

Press Releases

February 17, 2012

The Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) recently completed a multi-year investigation of CASA deMaryland, an illegal alien advocacy organization operating in DC and Maryland. IRLI has determined that the organization has egregiously violated its tax exempt status by engaging in electioneering, political and campaign activities. IRLI has filed a complaint with the IRS and Maryland Comptroller, seeking to expose CASA’s illegal activities and strip the organization of its 501c3 tax exempt status.

501c3 non-profit organizations such as churches, charities, and educational organizations are prohibited from participating in activities that promote a candidate or political party. Yet for nearly ten years, CASA has continuously functioned as a political action organization.

IRLI has collected evidence documenting CASA’s electioneering on behalf of elected officials in Maryland who are members of the Democratic Party. In return for campaign support, CASA has obtained substantial favorable influence on state legislation from Democratic elected officials in Maryland, including sponsorship and votes for legislation, appropriations to fund ongoing CASA operations, capital accumulation, and public benefits for unqualified aliens that CASA recruits as members and political workers.

IRLI’s complaint includes many documented instances of electioneering and misuse of taxpayer dollars:

“IRLI filed the tax complaint to bring attention to CASA de Maryland‘s well-documented history of engaging in activities that violate the laws governing 501(c)(3) charitable organizations,” said Monique A. Miles, the IRLI staff attorney who worked on the complaint. “IRLI believes that both the IRS and Maryland should revoke CASA’s tax-exempt status due to the egregious nature of the violations. A single instance of electioneering is enough for a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to lose its tax-exempt status. CASA has gone above and beyond that threshold.”

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