Chicago Ald. Ray Lopez (D-15th) says the city should pull the funding of RefugeeOne, the taxpayer-backed non-profit allegedly funding the living expenses of Venezuelan Illegal alien Loyola University murderer Jose Medina-Medina.
In a comment on X.com, Lopez said West Ridge-based RefugeeOne “should have its $2.7M (in) grants” revoked.”
Medina-Medina lives in an apartment with his mother at 6825 N. Sheridan Road, according to police reports, where RefugeeOne allegedly pays his rent.
He shot and killed 18-year-old Loyola student Sheridan Gorman on Thursday, March 19, as she stood on Loyola Beach Pier with friends.
Loyola Beach is a block east of 6825 N. Sheridan Road, where a one bedroom apartment rents for $1,450 per month.
The organization promises to provide illegal aliens with “access to employment, therapy, education and more,” according to its 2024 Annual Report.
The report said that RefugeeOne spent $9,946,902 in 2024 assisting 3,347 illegal aliens from 84 countries to live in Chicago, including those from Venezuela, Afghanistan, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Using taxpayer dollars, RefugeeOne reported paying for therapy for 293 of those aliens, and funding lawyers for 1,466 of them.
It reported finding 346 aliens jobs in Chicagoland, with “employer partners” including Unifi, Aramark, Hilton, 7-Eleven and Alpha Baking Co.
Lopez was referencing one of RefugeeOne’s 17 grant agreements with the City of Chicago– for $2,771,308 “to support the Preschool for All Program” for “children ages 3-5.”
The State of Illinois also made two separate grants totaling $450,000 to RefugeeOne last year, one for “violence interruption” and another for “costs associated with the purchase of a building and infrastructure improvements.”
RefugeeOne has received millions more each year in federal taxpayer funding, through other taxpayer-funded non-profits.
“Safety, dignity and self-reliance”
According to its 2024 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 990 filing, Church World Service, an illegal alien “assistance ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations in the U.S.”, reported giving RefugeeOne $3,734,601 in 2024.
Church World Service is predominantly funded by the federal government; it reported $251 million in government grants in 2024, versus $284 million in total revenue.
RefugeeOne received $3,510,376 from the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF), $418,003 from the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and $328,440 from “The Resurrection Project,” which pays for lawyers for illegal aliens.
On its 990 filing, RefugeeOne states its mission as helping illegal aliens “build new lives of safety, dignity and self-reliance.”
RefugeeOne told the IRS it spent $2,962,166 in taxpayer-funded direct “refugee assistance” to illegal aliens and $7,121,900 on employee salaries and benefits.
The filing said RefugeeOne executive director Melineh Kano earned $251,222 and “financial director” Ermias Ghiliazghi earned $189,242.Â
RefugeeOne reports private donors as well. They include the Crown Family and John G. Schreiber, co-founder of Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, as well as Kenilworth Union Church and Kirkland & Ellis, LLP.
Its Board of Directors includes President Jennifer Borrell, a library scientist from Arlington Heights, community organizer and anti-meat activist Ilya Sheyman of Evanston, former Arabella Advisors executive Debbie Kobak of Edgebrook, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights executive Oi Eng-Crandus of the Gold Coast, BMO Financial Managing Director Hassen Al-Shawaf of Lincoln Park, lawyer Anne Brody of River North, Wind Point Partners Managing Director Nathan Brown of Winnetka, Rebecca Carlins, wife of Magellan Development CEO David Carlins, of the The Loop, Evanston nurse Diana Mukamusoni Fulaza, Juliette Goldstein of Lake View, retired attorney Alan Greene of Highland Park, Investment Banker James Juchau of Wilmette, Dr. Gary Kaufman of Chicago, retired metals executive Michael Petersen of Winnetka, non-profit consultant Stacy French Reynolds of Bronzeville, Rev. Kyle Severson of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, pharmacist Kruti Parikh Shah of Oak Park, retired lawyer Steve Varick of Glencoe and non-profit fundraiser Evan Moilan of Bastrop, Tex.
“Wrap around services for three to six months”
A 2011 MacArthur Foundation grant report described RefugeeOne as using U.S. taxpayer money to feed and house “refugeees” before they could start receiving money from federal welfare programs.
“RefugeeOne serves refugees sent to Chicago by the U.S. Department of State by offering them food, transportation, and other wrap-around services for three to six months, to help connect them to local social service agencies and integrate them into the local workforce,” it said.
U.S. Government officials say Medina-Medina, the Loyola University murderer, was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in May 2023– nearly three years ago–  but released into the U.S. by the Biden Administration.Â
Medina-Medina was living in the Leone Beach Park field house in Rogers Park when he was arrested in June 2023 for shoplifting, taking $132 worth of merchandise from the North State Street Macy’s.
Cook County Judge Peter Gonzalez released Medina-Medina again into the public. He didn’t show up for his court date, scheduled for two months later, and another warrant was issued for his arrest.Â
Medina-Medina lived freely in Chicago until his arrest for Gorman’s murder.
