Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan says the federal government is investigating Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s employment of an illegal immigrant on her congressional staff.
The New York Post reported in March that former staffer Diego de la Vega, who came to the U.S. when he was seven years old but overstayed his visa, has since self-deported to Colombia.
According to Homan, it’s “being looked at” by federal agencies, he told Benny Johnson of The Benny Show.
🚨BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Border Czar Tom Homan confirms a federal investigation is underway into AOC for employing a criminal alien on her congressional staff and instructing them on how to evade ICE:
"It's being looked at. We've asked ICE to drill in on that case. It's under… pic.twitter.com/fSJBGN6Xfj
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 30, 2025
“I can’t comment past that. I’m aware of it. We’ve asked ICE to drill in on that case,” he said, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Homan added that the federal government doesn’t know yet if the former staffer had “illegal status or not at this point—it looks like it might have been temporary status.”
Johnson also asked Homan about AOC’s efforts to advise illegals how to avoid detention and deportation. Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional website gives pointers for not cooperating with ICE.
“As far as her educating people on how to evade ICE arrests, she’s really educating them on how to be prosecuted because there are statutes on the books – federal statute – when you knowingly hinder your removal that’s a crime,” he added.
“We’ve instructed ICE to start prosecuting these cases,” Homan said, referencing cases where illegals aren’t cooperating.
Ocasio-Cortez has also in the past said ICE is “a rogue agency” that should be abolished.