WASHINGTON, D.C. / NEW YORK — Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing a potentially unprecedented legal challenge as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) examines whether her office violated federal statutes prohibiting the hindering of immigration enforcement. Border Czar Tom Homan told podcaster Benny Johnson that he has asked ICE to “drill in” on the congresswoman’s activities.
The investigation centers on Diego de la Vega, who served as AOC’s Deputy Communications Director in 2022 despite his undocumented status.
The Allegation: Homan is investigating how an undocumented individual gained employment within a congressional office—and potentially accessed sensitive information.
The Background: De la Vega, a long-time DREAM Act advocate, voluntarily left the U.S. in early 2026 amid the administration’s intensified deportation efforts. Homan stressed that if AOC knowingly employed an illegal alien, she will be held “accountable” under federal employment and harboring laws.
The second pillar of the probe involves a series of “Know Your Rights” webinars hosted by Ocasio-Cortez’s office in both English and Spanish.
The DOJ Referral: Homan sent an email to the Deputy Attorney General alleging that AOC is “educating people how to avoid prosecution” rather than simply informing them of rights.
The Tactics: The webinars reportedly advised migrants “not to open the door” for ICE without a judge-signed warrant and encouraged them to sign privacy release forms allowing her office to interfere in deportation proceedings.
AOC’s Defense: The congresswoman has labeled the inquiry “politically motivated,” asserting that she was “fully using the First Amendment to inform people of their constitutional rights.”
[Image: Infographic showing the 70% increase in major crimes across AOC’s NY-14 district (2019-2026)]
The federal investigation coincides with a wave of local fury in AOC’s Bronx/Queens district. New data reveals that since her first term in 2019, major crime—including murder, rape, and robbery—has risen by 70%.
Precinct Surges: The 110th Precinct in Queens, which covers the “Market of Sweethearts” prostitution hub on Roosevelt Avenue, saw a staggering 105% increase in major crime.
Voter Backlash: Former supporters, like Elmhurst resident Guadelupe Alvarez, have publicly criticized the representative, telling reporters, “She’s not doing s–t… she doesn’t care.”