New York State Conservative Party Calls to Revoke Tax-Exempt Status of Nonprofits Accused of Defying Immigration Law

The Conservative Party of New York State called on federal and state officials Monday to revoke the tax-exempt status of a handful of nonprofit organizations recently alleged to support undocumented immigrants in defiance of federal immigration law while also receiving taxpayer funding.

“These groups must be publicly identified and stripped of their tax-exempt status,” State Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar said in a statement published by the party. “Taxpayer dollars are being used to break federal and state laws. There must be accountability.”

The party cites a recent New York Post review of public contract data that documents more than $600 million in combined city and state funding to legal and advocacy organizations described by the Post as “sanctuary” groups. The report alleges that recipients, including The Bronx Defenders, Make the Road New York, the New York Immigration Coalition, and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, have used public funds to assist undocumented immigrants in avoiding detection or enforcement by federal immigration authorities.

The Post report also notes that some of the named groups have participated in public demonstrations supporting sanctuary policies or backed recent legislation such as the New York for All Act, which would bar state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agents.

Kassar criticized the receiving organizations as “taxpayer-paid political radicals,” accusing them of using their charitable statuses to advance political agendas. He urged that organizations found to be violating immigration law should be prosecuted, stating that they “ought to be hauled into court if not prison.”

The full statement issued by the party is republished below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, [Number redacted] | [email protected]
July 21, 2025

NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATIVE PARTY DEMANDS END OF TAX-EXEMPT STATUS FOR SANCTUARY GROUPS PROMOTING ILLEGALITY

Brooklyn, NY — The New York State Conservative Party today called on federal and state authorities to immediately strip tax-exempt status from the sanctuary organizations that collectively received more than $600 million in taxpayer dollars—according to The New York Post—while actively working to undermine federal immigration law.

“Based on their support for individuals operating in the U.S. illegally, these groups are effectively working as criminal organizations — on the taxpayer dime,” said State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar. “These groups must be publicly identified and stripped of their tax-exempt status. Taxpayer dollars are being used to break federal and state laws. There must be accountability.

“These aren’t charitable nonprofits—they’re taxpayer-paid political radicals,” continued Chairman Kassar. “If you’re taking taxpayer money to defy our laws, you’re not entitled to the courtesy of tax exemption—and you ought to be hauled into court if not prison.

“They’ve been using the cloak of charity to wage a political war against our federal system,” Mr. Kassar said. “It’s time to end this lawlessness.”