Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York recently hinted at taking action against Tom Homan by potentially referring him to the Department of Justice. This came after an event she held in Queens, where she discussed helping immigrants avoid deportation.
Addressing the crowd, Ocasio-Cortez expressed that she’s not intimidated by Homan’s criticisms, noting her office’s earlier initiative—a “know your rights” webinar back in February. Homan accused her of possibly engaging in illegal activities that could hinder Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration.
“Tom Homan says he’s going to report me to the DOJ for exercising my right to free speech,” she said, earning cheers from those present.
She then firmly stated, “There’s nothing illegal about it. If they want to challenge me legally, then let them.”
During that February session, Ocasio-Cortez’s team provided practical advice to immigrants about their rights if they encounter deportation efforts. Participants were instructed to request a warrant and advised on how to differentiate between various types of warrants presented by ICE officers.
This, in turn, led Homan to assert that New York’s Democrats might be crossing legal boundaries.
“I’m in touch with the Department of Justice. Just where exactly do they think the line is being crossed?” he remarked.
He continued, “All she needs to do is read the laws passed by Congress. It is illegal to enter this country without permission.” Homan added that assisting those who evade law enforcement constitutes a felony, asserting that Ocasio-Cortez’s efforts are really about teaching immigrants how to escape legal repercussions.
During her speech, Ocasio-Cortez criticized the Trump administration’s methods concerning immigration and border security, specifically condemning the deportation of Venezuelan gang members as “authorized incentives.”
“I hesitate to even label them as deportations—they often seem sanctioned,” she said, addressing the crowd. “If someone comes to your door or a workplace, you can request to see a warrant. If they don’t have one, they should come back later.”
The venue was crowded, with many attendees filling an overflow room to hear her speak.
The audience reacted warmly to her comments, and there seemed to be solid support for her past initiatives. Many questions focused on local matters, such as raising the minimum wage and improving air quality, as well as how to respond to the Trump administration’s actions.
Notably, applause erupted when she spoke out against a proposed casino at Citi Field. Although approved by the New York City Council, Ocasio-Cortez clarified that she has no influence over state-level decisions like that one.
The event was mostly smooth, apart from some disruptions early on when protesters shouted at Ocasio-Cortez regarding what they described as genocide in Gaza.
“As a healthcare worker, I demand to know what you’re doing about Gaza!” one protester yelled, prompting a chorus of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” from other attendees. The disturbances grew loud enough that she eventually had to be escorted away for her safety.
