President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., engaged in a heated dispute over a recent webinar aimed at informing migrants about their rights during encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The online event, which Ocasio-Cortez promoted, provided information on how immigrants should respond to ICE search requests and enforcement tactics, sparking backlash from Homan, who accused her of obstructing federal law enforcement.
Homan condemned the event, suggesting that it could shield criminals from deportation. “Let’s pray that she is not ‘educating’ the next murderer of a young college nursing student on how to evade arrest by ICE,” Homan told Fox News Digital.
“How many more young women have to be raped, murdered, and burned alive until she wakes up?”
The former acting ICE director first addressed the issue on The Ingraham Angle, where he revealed that he had contacted the deputy attorney general to determine whether Ocasio-Cortez’s actions could be classified as interference with federal law enforcement.
“Is that impeding our law enforcement efforts?” Homan asked. “If so, what are we going to 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 is going to be in trouble now.”
The webinar provided viewers with guidance on how to handle ICE search requests and included warnings about tactics ICE agents may use to gain compliance. It also outlined trends in ICE’s enforcement strategies, which have intensified under Trump’s second term.
The session advised individuals to record interactions with ICE and to differentiate between different types of warrants agents might present.
While Ocasio-Cortez did not participate in the webinar itself, she promoted the information on social media. She uploaded posters in English and Spanish to Instagram, urging her followers to share them widely and study their contents.
She also encouraged people to print out the posters and display them at their workplaces or near their front doors. “So if ICE comes to your workplace or home, whether you are a citizen or noncitizen, YOU can defend your community and our Constitution by exercising your rights,” she wrote.
Her actions drew sharp criticism from Homan, who has long advocated for stricter immigration enforcement.
He argued that advising migrants on how to respond to ICE could interfere with national security and law enforcement efforts. He also accused Ocasio-Cortez of disregarding the potential consequences of illegal immigration.
As tensions escalated, Ocasio-Cortez responded by mocking Homan’s warning that she could be in legal trouble. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, she sarcastically wrote, “MaYbe shE’s goiNg to be in TroUble nOw.”
She then added, “Maybe he can learn to read. The Constitution would be a good place to start.”
The dispute highlights the deep divide between Trump’s hardline immigration stance and progressive efforts to protect undocumented immigrants.
The Biden administration had previously scaled back some ICE enforcement policies, but Trump’s return to office has led to renewed raids and deportations, drawing both praise from immigration hardliners and condemnation from advocacy groups.
Homan has been a vocal proponent of Trump’s approach, arguing that aggressive enforcement is necessary to secure the border and remove individuals who entered the country illegally.
He has frequently criticized Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive lawmakers for their stance on immigration, accusing them of prioritizing political ideology over public safety.
Ocasio-Cortez, on the other hand, has consistently advocated for immigrant rights and has been a fierce critic of ICE’s enforcement tactics. She has called for the agency’s reform or abolition, arguing that its practices often violate human rights and disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
By promoting the webinar and sharing resources on social media, she positioned herself once again at the forefront of the immigration debate.
The clash between Homan and Ocasio-Cortez also underscores the broader legal and political questions surrounding immigration enforcement and the rights of undocumented individuals.
Civil rights organizations argue that providing legal education to immigrants is not obstruction but a fundamental constitutional right. They maintain that knowing one’s rights is essential in preventing unlawful detentions and ensuring due process.
Legal experts have suggested that while Homan may view Ocasio-Cortez’s actions as interference, advising individuals of their legal rights is not illegal.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations regularly conduct “Know Your Rights” campaigns, which inform people about how to respond to law enforcement encounters. These programs, they argue, do not shield criminals but instead ensure that constitutional protections are upheld.
Despite the controversy, Ocasio-Cortez has shown no signs of backing down. She continues to promote immigrant advocacy efforts and remains critical of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
As ICE raids intensify, the debate over enforcement and immigrant rights is likely to escalate, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions.
The renewed focus on immigration enforcement under Trump’s administration is expected to have widespread implications.
Supporters of stricter policies argue that deportations deter illegal immigration and enhance national security, while opponents contend that such measures create fear and division within immigrant communities.
The fight over immigration policy is far from over, and as long as Ocasio-Cortez and Homan remain prominent figures in the debate, the tension between law enforcement and immigrant advocacy will continue to play out on the national stage.
Whether legal challenges arise from this clash remains to be seen, but for now, the political battle over immigration shows no signs of cooling down.