Former Acting ICE Director and current Border Czar Tom Homan did not hold back in a CNN interview with Dana Bash, criticizing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) over her stance on immigration enforcement.

Homan, who has worked in immigration law since 1984, dismissed AOC’s understanding of the law, recalling a past congressional hearing where he had to explain to her that entering the country illegally is a crime.
Homan made his frustration clear when discussing Ocasio-Cortez’s past statements encouraging illegal immigrants not to comply with federal orders.
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“Vaguely aware of immigration law. I’ve done this since 1984. I forgot more about the immigration law than AOC will ever know,” Homan stated. “Matter of fact, at a hearing a couple years ago, I had to explain to her that entering the country illegally was actually a crime.”
Homan specifically took issue with AOC’s advocacy for illegal immigrants to ignore deportation orders and refuse to comply with immigration authorities.
He argued that these actions ultimately protect criminal aliens who have already been ordered deported by a federal judge but continue to defy the law.
“I simply made a statement when you sit down with people who are wanted by us, criminal aliens that have been ordered deported from the United States government and ignored that order. If you had not ignored that order, you’d be sitting in prison,” Homan said.
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He also criticized AOC’s past rhetoric encouraging illegal immigrants not to open their doors to immigration authorities.
“Hiding in a home and she’s telling them not to open the door,” Homan said, referring to Ocasio-Cortez’s statements advising illegal immigrants on how to avoid enforcement actions.
Border Czar Tom Homan: “I’ve done this since 1984. I’ve forgot more about immigration law than @AOC will ever know.” pic.twitter.com/mo4OiaFrFO
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 16, 2025
Homan’s comments come amid continued debate over immigration enforcement policies, with many in the Biden administration and progressive circles advocating for policies that limit federal enforcement actions.
Homan has long been a vocal critic of these policies, arguing that they encourage further illegal immigration and weaken national security.
His sharp criticism of Ocasio-Cortez reflects the ongoing divide between those pushing for stricter immigration enforcement and those advocating for more lenient policies.
Homan’s remarks make it clear that he believes enforcement is necessary and that ignoring federal orders should have consequences.
As the border crisis continues to escalate, the debate over how to handle illegal immigration remains a central issue, with figures like Homan pushing back against those who advocate for defying federal immigration laws.
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Tom Homan is a breath of fresh air in the federal morass of bureaucracies! I hope that he is working as hard as it is humanly possible to rid our country of all of the illegal aliens that have penetrated our borders and that all of them have no ability to apply for legal entry for a very long time. I especially want to see all of the criminal miscreants gone first, and then work on the rest!
Dana Bash Speechless!! Mark this moment along with the fall of the Roman Empire.