Noem Comments On Congresswoman's Statement
In a fiery exchange on Fox News’ Hannity, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a sharp rebuke of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), calling on the Department of Justice to investigate her for potentially obstructing federal immigration enforcement.
The demand comes amid escalating tensions between the congresswoman and former border enforcement chief Tom Homan, and it marks a new phase in the clash between progressive immigration advocates and the hardline Trump administration.
The flashpoint? A town hall event in Jackson Heights, Queens, where Ocasio-Cortez taunted Homan directly: “Come for me.” It wasn’t an isolated comment. In February, she hosted a “Know Your Rights With ICE” virtual event, offering undocumented migrants guidance on what to do during ICE encounters.
The event, livestreamed on her Facebook page, drew immediate attention from Trump-era immigration officials, with Homan warning that he was working with the DOJ to determine whether her actions constituted obstruction of justice.
Now, Secretary Noem has stepped into the fray.
“We’ve seen not just those that serve in public office be willing to break the law to facilitate the invasion… We’ve also seen judges take radical action to help protect these criminals,” she said. “It’s time that we stand for what’s right.”
Noem asserted it would be “entirely appropriate” for the Justice Department to investigate whether Ocasio-Cortez’s conduct rises to the level of aiding and abetting illegal immigration—an allegation rooted in her advice to migrants on avoiding deportation or ICE detention. Critics argue the event may have crossed the line from advocacy into obstruction.
The dispute reflects a broader ideological battle that’s become emblematic of Trump’s second term. Immigration policy is once again a cornerstone of his presidency, and officials like Noem and Homan have become high-profile enforcers of that agenda. Noem accused Democrats of using fear as a political weapon and standing “alongside known terrorists,” a rhetorical volley likely aimed at linking progressive immigration policies to the violent acts of criminal networks like MS-13.
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has eyed legal action against Democratic lawmakers seen as undermining its enforcement strategy. But what makes this moment especially volatile is the intersection of immigration law, political speech, and constitutional protections. Ocasio-Cortez has asked the DOJ whether she’s under formal investigation—a move signaling she’s taking the matter seriously, even as she continues to frame the administration’s actions as authoritarian overreach.
Meanwhile, the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego-Garcia, an alleged MS-13 associate, continues to inflame debate. Democrats’ advocacy for his return has drawn fierce Republican condemnation, especially after reports surfaced that some lawmakers took taxpayer-funded trips to El Salvador in connection to his case.