Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) is under fire after giving advice to undocumented immigrants during a public forum—sparking a heated debate online and drawing sharp criticism from Tom Homan, President Trump’s “Border Czar.”
In a February 28, 2025 interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, AOC touched on everything from the Democratic Party’s response to Trump’s re-election to her own role in helping immigrants understand their rights. She described the Democrats as moving through the stages of grief, saying, “We’ve gone through the shock, the dismay… we’re working through it.”
She went on to criticize Republican policies, accusing the GOP of favoring the wealthy while ignoring the working class. “They throw scraps at everyday Americans but hand out real benefits to the ultra-rich,” she argued.
The real controversy, however, centered around her recent “Know Your Rights” forum—a digital session aimed at educating people on their constitutional protections. AOC defended the event, explaining, “I want all my constituents to know they have rights under the Constitution, especially protections against unlawful search and seizure.”
But critics, including Homan, accused her of crossing a legal line. Inskeep brought up the former ICE director’s concerns, asking whether she was giving guidance to people who are in the U.S. illegally. AOC stood firm, replying, “I was speaking to all of my constituents.”
That response caused a stir on social media. Some users accused her of violating federal law, specifically 8 U.S.C. § 1324, which makes it a crime to encourage or help someone stay in the country illegally. One user, Matt Van Swol, claimed, “If her advice was detailed enough, she may have broken the law.”
Others on X chimed in with questions and concerns. “Why is she assuming all her constituents are undocumented?” one user asked. Another wondered about the implications for voter eligibility in her district, saying, “This sounds like a voter fraud red flag.”
The debate is still ongoing, but one thing is clear—AOC’s stance on immigration continues to spark passionate responses on both sides of the aisle.