Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) is a nonprofit that advocates for policies that restrict immigration to the United States from an environmentalist and population-control viewpoint. The organization runs television advertisements, polls, and events to work towards lowering the number of immigrants to California. ¹

Background

Californians for Population Stabilization was founded in Ventura, California, in 1986 with the goal of minimizing future population growth in California. It started as a branch of the organization Population Connection (formerly Zero Population Growth). ² CAPS supports immigration policies reducing the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States each year. The group holds immigration policy and the federal government, rather than immigrants themselves, are to blame for rising population.

The group alleges that population increase can lead to a strain on California’s environment and infrastructure. CAPS puts an emphasis on the idea that we can only take in the amount of immigrants that our environment and resources can adequately accommodate. ³

Advocacy

Californians for Population Stabilization holds that the approach that a rapid expansion in California’s population can hurt the state, both environmentally and socially.

The organization argues that negative consequences of an influx of people are increased pollution levels, damaged natural environments, increased traffic, overcrowded schools, job competition, and higher taxes. CAPS advocates for tightening border protection, increasing deportation, slowing the rate of legal immigration, and eliminating birthright citizenship. ⁴

CAPS has criticized many Republicans favoring moderate immigration reform which would not slow the rate of immigration into the U.S., including Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), former Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), and former Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). ⁵

CAPS has also targeted President Donald Trump, putting out television advertisement campaigns criticizing him for supporting advancements in legal immigration. ⁶

Finances

CAPS has received $7,971,720 in grants since 1999. The Colcom Foundation, an private foundation that funds environmentalist and population control organizations, provided 76 percent of these grant dollars. ⁷ The funds for CAPS had been slowly growing and net assets eventually peaked at $1,589,336 in 2012. ⁸ In its most recent IRS filing from 2017, CAPS had total revenues of $907,807, total expenses of $1,077,031, and net assets of $560,002. ⁹

Leadership

Jo Wideman is the group’s executive director, according to tax records¹⁰ and according to her personal LinkedIn. ¹¹ Wideman received total compensation of $136,294 in 2017. ¹² Wideman holds an extensive background which includes work with the American Red Cross and various technology companies. ¹³

Ben Zuckerman is president of the CAPS board of directors and an astrophysicist, author, and professor at UCLA. Zuckerman also co-edited a book in 1995 titled, “Human Population and the Environmental Crisis.” ¹⁴

Judith Smith is vice-president of the CAPS board of directors, holding a background consisting of work with the National Charity League, the Los Positas Park Foundation, and the Cottage Hospital Rehabilitation Foundation. ¹⁵

Ric Oberlink is a former executive director. He held the position from 1992 to 1997, prior to operating as a self-employed consultant to various nonprofits, reportedly including CAPS. ¹⁶

1. “Californians For Population Stabilization.” Californians For Population Stabilization. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.capsweb.org/.
2. Coates, Peter. American Perceptions of Immigrant and Invasive Species Strangers on the Land. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007.
3. “About Us.” Californians For Population Stabilization. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.capsweb.org/about/about-us.
4. “About Us.” Californians For Population Stabilization. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.capsweb.org/about/about-us.
5. “Californians for Population Stabilization Ramps Up Its Activities.” Anti-Defamation League. October 2, 2013. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.adl.org/news/article/californians-for-population-stabilization-ramps-up-its-activities.
6. Californians For Population Stabilization. “CAPS TV Ad: More Immigration, More Job Competition, Lower Wages, Who Voted for That?” Advertisement. YouTube. March 18, 2019. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA_kkBd5Pgk.
7. Information provided by FoundationSearch. Californians for Population Stabilization. Accessed June 10, 2019. www.FoundationSearch.com
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Californians For Population Stabilization. 2012. Schedule A, Part I, Line 22.
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Californians For Population Stabilization. 2017. Schedule A, Part I, Lines 12, 18, 22.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Californians For Population Stabilization. 2016. Part VII Section A
11. “Jo Wideman.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-wideman-8b4227b
12. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Californians For Population Stabilization. 2017. Schedule A, Part VII, Line 10.
13. “Jo Wideman.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-wideman-8b4227b
14. “Board of Directors.” Californians For Population Stabilization. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.capsweb.org/about/board-directors.
15. “Board of Directors.” Californians For Population Stabilization. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.capsweb.org/about/board-directors.
16. Immigration Reform Law Institute. “NEPAPlaintiffs.” IRLI. Accessed June 10, 2019. https://www.irli.org/nepaplaintiffs.