Trump's 'border czar' doubles down on threat to have AOC investigated
Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan claimed Sunday that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) could be prosecuted if the Department of Justice decides her recent webinar on avoiding ICE deportation constitutes an "impediment" to law enforcement.
AOC's office hosted a live webinar on Wednesday called "Know Your Rights With ICE," where migrants were advised on what to do if an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent knocks on the door.
Homan appeared on CNN with Dana Bash, who played a clip of him telling Fox News, "I'm working with the Department of Justice in finding out, where is that line that they cross? So maybe AOC's going to be in trouble now."
"Are you suggesting that she should be prosecuted?" Bash asked him.
"I''m suggesting that I asked the Department of Justice, where is that line on impediment, right? It's a broad statute. So, I know, impeding, with someone stopped in front of me and put their hands on my chest, saying, 'You're not coming in here to arrest that guy,' that's clearly impeding. But at what point? Where's the line on impeding?"
Homan added, "Because you can call it 'Know Your Rights' all you want. We all know what the bottom line is. The bottom line is, how do they evade law enforcement?"
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"She said that she is just offering civil education and that you might be, quote, 'Vaguely familiar with the U.S. immigration law," Bash said.
"Vaguely familiar with the U.S. immigration law," Homan said with a wry smile. "I forgot more about the immigration law that AOC will ever know. As a matter of fact...I had explained to her that entering the country illegally was actually a crime. So, you know, I'm not going to play that game with her."
Homan said he just wanted to make sure that ICE officers were "doing the right thing."
"I think it's the responsible thing to do for the border czar of the United States to make sure the men and women of ICE understand what they can and can't do," Homan said.
Bash added, "And, of course, right now being undocumented is a civil offense and not a criminal one, unless you commit those crimes."