U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a rally held along with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 12, 2025. REUTERS/Carlin Stiehl
Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) goaded Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s so-called "border czar," to make good on his threats of a potential Justice Department investigation into her efforts to inform migrants about their rights when interacting with federal immigration agents.
Homan's repeatedly threatened Ocasio-Cortez in media appearances, and his comments were widely interpreted as attempts to intimidate or punish the congresswoman over her "Know Your Rights" seminars.
“Is that impeding our law enforcement efforts? If so, what are we gonna do about it? Is she crossing the line? So, I’m working with the Department of Justice and finding out. Where is that line that they cross? So, maybe AOC’s gonna be in trouble now.”
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At a Friday night town hall, Ocasio-Cortez appeared to challenge Homan to put up or shut up.
"When we first did one of these seminars, Tom Homan, then-acting director of ICE, said that he was going to threaten to refer me to the DOJ because I'm using my free speech rights in order to advise people of their constitutionally guaranteed protections. And he may want to do it again today. To that I say, come for me. You're going to have to come for me."
After attendees cheered and clapped, Ocasio-Cortez continued, "Do I look like I care?"
The congresswoman said she wants people to exercise their constitutional rights to beat back any erosion under Trump.
"Our rights are use it or lose it. So we need to use it. And we need to challenge them. So don't let them intimidate you into thinking you're doing something wrong by telling people what their actual, legal constitutional rights are. There's nothing wrong about it, and there's nothing illegal about it. And if they want to make it illegal, they can come take me. That's how I feel about it," she concluded, before walking off the stage.
Watch the fiery clip below or at this link.
AOC: Tom Homan said he was going to refer me to DOJ because I’m using my free speech rights in order to advise people of their constitutional protections… to that I say: Come for me… Do I look like I care?
There’s nothing illegal about it and if they want to make it illegal,… pic.twitter.com/Lzm94e28Cc
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 2, 2025