Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, is once again casting herself as a potential target of a Department of Justice investigation after her involvement in a controversial immigration webinar. She told Fox News that the DOJ has not responded to her inquiries about whether she is under federal scrutiny. The issue stems from a February “Know Your Rights” event where lawyers advised illegal immigrants on how to handle encounters with ICE, including guidance that they do not have to open the door without a judicial warrant. The webinar, conducted in English and Spanish, also distributed documents, offered information on obtaining pro bono legal assistance, and encouraged undocumented individuals to sign privacy release forms enabling her office to intervene in deportation cases. Ocasio-Cortez has maintained that her actions were protected by the First Amendment and aimed at informing people of their legal rights.
As speculation grows about a possible inquiry, Ocasio-Cortez argues that any move to detain or investigate her would represent a dangerous escalation by the Trump administration. She accused the DOJ of yielding to political pressure, citing public demands from Trump-appointed border czar Tom Homan for a probe into her activities. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, she questioned whether the department was being weaponized against political opponents. Homan, meanwhile, has openly stated that he contacted acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to ask whether her actions might constitute interference with law enforcement.
The dispute is the latest flare-up in a long-running feud between Ocasio-Cortez and Homan, which began during the Trump administration when she became one of the strongest advocates for dismantling ICE. Ocasio-Cortez has dismissed the current controversy as politically motivated, while Homan insists her conduct warrants scrutiny.