Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Thursday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) whether she is being investigated over her “Know Your Rights with ICE” webinar that she held in response to President Donald Trump's ongoing illegal immigration crackdown.
Ocasio-Cortez sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi about threats of prosecution against her by Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.
“I write to request clarity on whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yielded to political pressure and attempts to weaponize the agency against elected officials whose speech they disagree with,” she wrote in the letter. "Over the past two weeks, ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan has gone on multiple forums threatening political prosecution against me, citing resources I distributed informing my constituents and the American public of their constitutional and legal rights.”
Homan warned that Ocasio-Cortez could be in trouble after her office hosted a Feb. 13 webinar that offered guidance to people who may be targeted by U.S Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
Homan characterized the webinars as trying to teach illegal immigrants how to evade deportation.
Ocasio-Cortez, who didn't appear in the webinar, says the information in it is protected by the First Amendment.
“Educating the public about their rights, especially in a time of rising uncertainty, is a key part of our responsibility as elected officials,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in the letter. “A government that uses threats of DOJ investigations to suppress free speech is a threat to all, regardless of political ideology.”
Homan suggested in an interview on FOX News that the congresswoman was crossing the line and should be investigated. He also said that he inquired with the attorney general about whether her actions were considered impeding law enforcement efforts.
Since then, Ocasio-Cortez has publicly defended the webinar. In one instance, she shared multiple graphics offering advice to noncitizens, including one saying ICE agents cannot enter one's home without a signed warrant.
"Believe it or not, in America EVERYONE has rights," Rep. Ocasio-Cortez wrote alongside the graphics. "Citizen or not, we all should know our rights to protect ourselves and others from illegal search & seizure."