Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has sparked controversy again by defending her recent efforts to inform migrants of their legal rights, a move that has drawn criticism from former Border Patrol chief Tom Homan. Homan, who served as President Trump’s “border czar,” voiced his concerns over her actions during an appearance on Fox News. He questioned whether her actions were obstructing law enforcement efforts and even implied that she could be crossing a line by advising migrants.
Homan didn’t hold back, stating, “Is she impeding our law enforcement efforts? What are we going to do about it?” He went on to suggest that Ocasio-Cortez might find herself facing legal trouble, and also threatened to withhold federal funding from states that refuse to comply with deportation laws.
In response, Ocasio-Cortez took to social media to mock Homan’s comments. On the platform Bluesky, she posted a sarcastic remark: “‘MaYbe shE’s goiNg to be in TroUble nOw,’” followed by a jab at Homan’s apparent ignorance of the Constitution, saying, “Maybe he can learn to read. The Constitution would be a good place to start.”
The confrontation is a continuation of Ocasio-Cortez’s outspoken opposition to the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration. She has long been a vocal critic of the president’s immigration policies, which aim to carry out what he promised would be the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats have condemned Trump’s executive orders, such as the one targeting birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants, an order that has been temporarily blocked by multiple federal judges.
This clash also mirrors other recent controversies within the Democratic Party, such as Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) efforts to educate Somali migrants on deportation laws. As the debate over immigration continues to escalate, the divide between those pushing for stronger border enforcement and those advocating for migrant rights remains as wide as ever.