BOSTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is facing backlash after it was revealed that the city has been using taxpayer funds to teach immigrants, including those without legal status, how to politically organize for progressive causes.

The program, Immigrants Lead Boston, offers $575 “scholarships” to immigrants who reside in Boston and “wish to become leaders in the community.”

The latest session began last week and extends through early December, per the city website.

“The program aims to build on participants’ knowledge, skills and relationships,” the city website states. “We want them to be effective leaders and ambassadors for their communities. Participants will grow their ability to navigate city government, engage with city officials, and advocate for their communities.”

Immigrants Lead Boston was created under former Mayor Marty Walsh’s administration, and began in the fall of 2020, but Wu has been the subject of online backlash for using taxpayer dollars for the exclusive program since it was publicized by a conservative journalist in a Substack report on Saturday.

The report by Natalie Winters, a conservative political commentator known for co-hosting the War Room podcast with Steve Bannon, was published with the headline, “Boston is paying illegal aliens to become community organizers.”

Her subhead reads, “Michelle Wu is building an activist pipeline.”

The program is only open to immigrants, and the city website states that “interested applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of their immigration status.”

It’s run by the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement in partnership with the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition.

“Ideal candidates are emerging leaders committed to advocating for their immigrant community in Boston,” the city website states. “Participants will meet key City of Boston officials and learn how to effectively navigate the local government, as well as acquire advanced public speaking and community organizing skills.

“The goal is for these participants to advance their leadership skills and effectively advocate for issues that impact our communities,” the city added.

Past participants in the program have been trained to advocate for progressive causes, such as housing security, equitable development, and lobbying for a bill that passed and allows immigrants without legal status to obtain driver’s licenses.

Backlash to the program was swift following Saturday’s Substack report, which gained further traction after it was picked up and aggregated by conservative social media influencers, Mass Daily News and Libs of TikTok.

“No whites need apply, another racist policy by Michelle Wu against the white population,” one user wrote on X.

Another user commented, “Great, now they can find new ways to screw actual citizens out of their hard-earned money.”

“Immigrants Lead Boston? Locals leave Boston,” one X user proclaimed.

Another asked if the program was “open to everyone? If not, there’s a problem.”

Mayor Wu’s office did not immediately respond to the Herald’s request for comment.

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