In a stunning revelation on March 7, 2025, the conservative social media account Libs of TikTok exposed a major scandal involving Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). It was revealed that Ocasio-Cortez had employed an illegal immigrant, Diego de la Vega, as her Deputy Communication Director. The situation has sparked outrage among conservatives, who have long accused the progressive congresswoman of hypocrisy, particularly on issues of immigration.

De la Vega, who self-deported to Colombia after President Trump took office, was not just a former staffer but an illegal immigrant hired by Ocasio-Cortez to work in a taxpayer-funded government office. “DID YOU KNOW AOC’s campaign’s Deputy Communication Director was an illegal? He has now self-deported from the US to Colombia. Why was a sitting member of Congress employing an illegal?” Libs of TikTok asked, with other social media users adding fuel to the fire.

The revelation quickly sparked outrage across the political spectrum, as more conservatives joined in calling for accountability. One Twitter user remarked, “Majority of her staff were/are illegals and paid by US tax dollars— which is illegal. AOC should be investigated immediately.” Others questioned the broader implications of Ocasio-Cortez’s actions. “Hey @AOC, aside from Diego de la Vega, how many other illegals did you have on your staff in 2024?” one user posted, pointing out that Ocasio-Cortez had employed other individuals with questionable immigration statuses. Another user raised concerns about how such individuals could have passed background checks or received government benefits, despite their illegal status.

This latest scandal sheds light on Ocasio-Cortez’s long-standing history of promoting pro-illegal immigration policies while benefiting from the very system she criticizes. U.S. law under Title 8 U.S.C. §1324a(a)(1)(A) explicitly prohibits hiring unauthorized immigrants, with penalties for employers who knowingly break the law. Congress members, like any other employers, are supposed to comply with these immigration laws. Yet, here we are with Ocasio-Cortez’s blatant disregard for the rule of law.

“This is a slap in the face to every law-abiding American,” one user commented. “A congresswoman breaking immigration laws while preaching ‘justice’ is hypocrisy at its finest.” Critics also pointed to her past advocacy for illegal immigrants, including her lessons on how to avoid ICE, as evidence of her radical agenda. “First she gave lessons on avoiding ICE, and now we find out she employed an illegal to work in her government office. These are obvious things. What is AOC doing that’s not so obvious?” asked another commenter.

De la Vega himself sat down with *Migrant Insider* to discuss the decision to leave the United States. “It’s bittersweet. I hadn’t left the country in 23 years — from age seven to age 30,” de la Vega admitted. “Now, I can’t go back to the U.S. It feels like exile.” Still, he expressed a sense of relief after his move to Colombia. “It feels surreal to not be illegalized anymore. I don’t have to live in the shadows or constantly worry about paperwork,” he explained, despite his role in a scandal that many view as emblematic of the left’s flagrant disregard for the law.

De la Vega justified his illegal status, claiming that he and Ocasio-Cortez “were always honest with voters in New York City,” emphasizing the progressive agenda of “fighting for reform.” However, this noble-sounding rhetoric hardly alleviates concerns about the rule of law being ignored for political gain.

The latest bombshell revelation is a stark reminder of the hypocrisy on display among those who champion open borders and immigration reform while simultaneously flouting the very laws they claim to uphold. Ocasio-Cortez has long positioned herself as a champion of the marginalized, but her actions speak louder than her words. If she is truly committed to “justice,” it’s time for her to face the consequences of her own legal transgressions.

This scandal is just another in a growing list of reasons why Ocasio-Cortez, and others like her, must be held accountable. The American people deserve better than a congresswoman who openly flouts the law and puts personal and political interests above the safety and security of our country.