Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York has expressed significant concern following reports suggesting she may be the focus of a federal investigation for allegedly assisting illegal immigrants in evading apprehension by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In response to these developments, the contentious congresswoman addressed a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi this week, seeking clarification on whether she is indeed under investigation. This inquiry follows statements made by border enforcement official Tom Homan, who indicated that he had referred her case to the Justice Department for possible criminal charges.
In her letter, she stated, “I am writing to seek clarity on whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) has succumbed to political pressure and is attempting to weaponize the agency against elected officials whose views they oppose. Over the past fortnight, ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan has made several public statements threatening political prosecution against me, referencing resources I provided to inform my constituents and the American public of their constitutional and legal rights.”
She further noted, “On February 13, 2025, Mr. Homan declared that he had requested the Deputy Attorney General to initiate an investigation, asserting that I would be ‘in trouble now.’ It has been 14 days since Mr. Homan first threatened to misuse your agency, yet I have not received any communication from the federal government regarding a referral. Homan’s actions undermine fundamental Constitutional rights, and greater transparency is essential,” she emphasized, citing the First Amendment.
“Indeed, last week, Vice President Vance remarked that ‘we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to express them in the public square.’ Mr. Homan’s persistent efforts to utilize your agency for political intimidation against duly elected officials represent a clear threat to the right to free speech in the United States. Threatening criminal action for exercising First Amendment rights constitutes a violation of those very rights,” she concluded.
Educating the public about their rights, particularly during a period of increasing uncertainty, is a fundamental duty of elected officials. A government that employs threats of Department of Justice investigations to stifle free speech poses a danger to everyone, irrespective of their political beliefs. Ocasio-Cortez stated, “Please provide an update by March 5, 2025, regarding the Department of Justice’s response to Mr. Homan’s request, along with clarity on whether my office or I am currently under investigation for exercising our First Amendment rights and fulfilling our congressional duties.”
The controversy arose after the representative conducted an Instagram Live webinar titled “Know Your Rights” earlier this month, which Homan contends may have been intended to guide undocumented immigrants on how to evade detention by federal immigration authorities. The bilingual webinar included legal experts from the Immigrant Defense Project, offering advice on how to react to ICE enforcement actions.
Additionally, her office has distributed flyers that inform undocumented immigrants about ICE tactics and their legal options. In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Homan mentioned that he had referred Ocasio-Cortez to the deputy attorney general for further investigation.
“She claims to be educating people about their constitutional rights. You can label it that way,” the border czar remarked. “We all understand her intentions. She aims to instruct these individuals on how to avoid arrest and evade ICE, while we are still searching for child predators in New York and her district. These are individuals convicted of child sex crimes and rape, and she wants to present herself as an educator on constitutional rights,” Homan continued.
“We are tasked with enforcing the laws established by Congress. I believe she is a member of Congress, so if they are drafting laws they do not wish to see enforced, I think they should focus on more pressing matters.”
Hannity remarked that the representative might have a valid argument for free speech; however, he inquired, “At what point does it become complicity in illegal activities?”
“That is precisely the question I raised with the Deputy Attorney General. I urged him to investigate the matter. I mentioned that throughout my career, I have witnessed instances where someone intervenes between you and the individual you are apprehending or confronting,” Homan stated.
