The Sandinista government was opposed by the right-wing CIA-backed rebels known as the Contras. Congress denied further aid to the Contras in Nicaragua. Robertson was a fundraiser for the Nicaraguan Contras. The nation also hosted bases for the Nicaraguan Contras. The United States funded groups such as the Contras in Nicaragua. Later, Schafer asks Seal to run guns to the Nicaraguan Contras based in Honduras. She later said that Ronald Reagan's support of the Contras made her a lifelong Republican. In 1985, he signed a petition in support for the anti-Communist Contras (Nicaragua). The civil war between the Contras and the government continued until 1989. During the war between the contras and the Sandinistas, 30,000 people were killed. In fiscal year 1984, the U.S. Congress approved $24 million in aid to the contras. State media accused the Catholic Church of being reactionary and supporting the Contras. The Contras ended fighting soon afterwards. During her first year in university, Navarro raised funds for the Contras. Two Mi-25s were shot down by Stingers fired by the Contras.