Tom Homan, the border czar under former President Donald Trump, has referred Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to the Department of Justice in regard to advice that her office shared with illegal migrants about strategies for avoiding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The referral followed a webinar hosted by Ocasio-Cortez's team, designed to educate migrants on their rights amid increased ICE activity, which prompted concerns from Homan during a Fox News appearance, as Just the News reports.
During an interview on Thursday evening, Homan raised questions about possible legal implications of Ocasio-Cortez's actions. His comments came after her office hosted the webinar on Wednesday, which appeared on her Facebook page, offering guidance to migrants on their rights, especially in the context of visits from ICE.
While Ocasio-Cortez herself did not attend the webinar, the event became prominent due to its educational focus on migrant rights. Her office aimed to provide information on how migrants could protect themselves during ICE interventions, sparking a critical response from Homan. The former border czar questioned whether such guidance overstepped legal boundaries, a concern he voiced publicly on Fox News.
Homan openly pondered the legality of the advice provided. "Is she crossing the line?" he asked during the broadcast. He expressed a desire to work with the Justice Department to determine if any legal lines were crossed and where precisely those boundaries lie.
In making the referral, Homan directed his concerns to the deputy attorney general, seeking clarity on the issue. His comments underscored the potential legal ramifications he believed might stem from the webinar's content, signaling a desire for further investigation into the matter.
"So maybe AOC is going to be in trouble now," Homan speculated during his remarks, though he acknowledged his lack of prosecutorial authority. Instead, he called for the deputy attorney general's input to understand the extent of any potential legal breaches.
As the news of the referral circulated, Ocasio-Cortez took to social media to defend her office's intentions. In a series of posts, she highlighted the importance of knowing one's rights, emphasizing that it applies to everyone, regardless of citizenship status.
"Believe it or not, in America EVERYONE has rights," she stated. Her comments also included advice about ICE's typical procedural actions, particularly regarding warrants for home entry, aiming to educate the public on avoiding unlawful searches and seizures.
The incident has initiated a public conversation about the balance between providing legal information and potentially obstructing law enforcement efforts. Some stakeholders view Ocasio-Cortez's efforts as an essential defense of civil liberties, while others, like Homan, see potential legal issues that warrant examination.
As the Department of Justice reviews the referral, the broader implications of such educational endeavors are likely to undergo scrutiny. Understanding where lines should be drawn is critical in such a politically charged environment.
The content of the webinar, aiming to inform individuals about their rights, including during ICE visits, has received mixed reactions. Supporters praise the initiative for empowering vulnerable communities, while critics, including Homan, express concerns over possible implications for law enforcement.
With the referral under review, the case presents a compelling intersection of law, politics, and civil rights advocacy. The fact that it involves a prominent political figure like Ocasio-Cortez further amplifies its visibility and potential impact on public discourse.
