Immigration Accountability Project
The Immigration Accountability Project (IAP) is an anti-immigration 501(c)(3) organization that purports to educate "the American public about the actions, votes, and statements of their elected representatives on immigration issues and their impact on America.[1] IAP was co-founded by Chris Chmielenski and Rosemary Jenks in 2023, both of whom had previously worked as senior staff of the anti-immigration group NumbersUSA.[2]
IAP is a "founding member" of the Only Citizens Vote Coalition (OCVC).[3] Launched in May 2024 by Cleta Mitchell, OCVC is a network of election denial groups that peddle unsubstantiated claims about mass non-citizen voting in American elections.[4]
Contents
News and Controversies
Promoting Non-Citizen Voting Model Policy at ALEC's 2024 Meeting
At their annual meeting in July 2024, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) circulated the "Only Citizens Vote Model Policy," as first reported by the Center for Media and Democracy.[5] The Guardian later reported that the model policy originated from the Only Citizens Vote Coalition. A newsletter obtained by the Guardian indicated that Chris Chmielenski of IAP, Cleta Mitchell, and Ken Cuccinelli of Election Transparency Initiative were instrumental in getting the model policy passed at this meeting.[6]
According to Rolling Stone, while serving as a panelist at the ALEC meeting, Chmielenski asserted that "illegal aliens [...] have already violated U.S. immigration law. So why not violate our voting laws as well?"[7]
IAP Awarded Heritage Foundation's Innovation Prize in 2024
In May 2024, the Heritage Foundation announced that the Immigration Accountability Project was one of the recipients of the Innovation Prize. IAP received a $100,000 award to "support its aims to keep the immigration issue and the ongoing border crises on voters' minds through the end of 2024," according to a Heritage Foundation press release.[8]
Funding
- Heritage Foundation: $100,000 (2024)
Core Financials
IAP filed a 990-N in 2023, so exact financials are unknown. Organizations can file the 990-N with the IRS when revenue is less than $50,000.
Personnel
Staff
As of October 2024:[9]
- Chris Chmielenski, President
- Rosemary Jenks, Policy Director
- Grant Newman, Director of Government Relations
Board of Directors
As of October 2024:[9]
- Dave Brat, Chair
- Tom Tancredo, Emeritus
- Ed Corrigan
- Wesley Denton
- John Zadrozny
- Chris Chmielenski
- Rosemary Jenks
Contact Information
Immigration Accountability Project
611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #121
Washington, DC 20003
Website: iaproject.org
Facebook: Immigration Accountability Project
Instagram: i_a_project
LinkedIn: Immigration Accountability Project
X: @I_A_Project
References
- ↑ Immigration Accountability Project, About, organizational website, accessed October 10, 2024.
- ↑ Alice Herman, "Far-Right Groups Coalescing to Stoke Unfounded Fears of Non-Citizens Voting", The Guardian, May 31, 2024.
- ↑ Rosemary Jenks, "Written Testimony of Rosemary Jenks, Cofounder and Policy Director, Immigration Accountability Project, before the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited government of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives", written testimony, September 10, 2024.
- ↑ Cleta Mitchell, Status, Twitter, May 8, 2024.
- ↑ David Armiak, "Eight States Will Vote on Amendments to Ban Noncitizen Voting in November", Exposed by CMD, August 28, 2024.
- ↑ Alice Herman, "Anti-Immigrant Activists Draft Bill Requiring US Citizenship Proof to Vote", The Guardian, August 23, 2024.
- ↑ Brendan Fischer and Victoria Cadostin, "Big Pharma Is Teaming Up with MAGA Groups to Restrict Voting", Rolling Stone, August 14, 2024.
- ↑ Heritage Foundation, "The Heritage Foundation Announces New Innovation Prize for the Immigration Accountability Project", organizational press release, May 20, 2024.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Immigration Accountability Project, Leadership, organizational website, accessed October 10, 2024.
