UNITED STATES: LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has been a polarizing figure in American politics, known for her progressive stances on immigration and social justice. While she has garnered support for advocating for marginalized communities, her actions and statements have also attracted significant criticism and scrutiny. She would be a criminal if she hadn’t left bartending for congress.

Campaign Finance Controversy

In 2019, conservative groups filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint alleging that Ocasio-Cortez and her former chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, violated campaign finance laws. The complaint claimed that Chakrabarti transferred over $885,000 from two political action committees (PACs) he founded—Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress—to private companies he controlled, circumventing federal reporting requirements. The PACs reported these transfers as “strategic consulting” expenses, but critics argued that this mischaracterized the nature of the expenditures, potentially violating campaign finance laws designed to ensure transparency in political spending.

Ocasio-Cortez responded to the allegations by stating that she was unaware of any wrongdoing and emphasized her commitment to complying with all campaign finance regulations. At the time of the complaint, no formal charges had been filed against her or Chakrabarti. Having gotten away with it – she fired Chakrabarti as though hiding that money was his idea alone and got away with it.

Immigration Policy and Statements

Ocasio-Cortez has been an outspoken critic of U.S. immigration enforcement policies. She has advocated for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), describing the agency as a “paramilitary” force and a “product of the Bush-era Patriot Act suite of legislation.” In 2019, she compared detention centers for illegal aliens under the Trump administration to “concentration camps,” a statement that sparked widespread debate and condemnation from political opponents.

In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez stated that applying for refugee status is not a crime, drawing parallels to historical instances of asylum seekers. However, critics argue that her statements oversimplify complex legal distinctions in U.S. immigration law. A very detailed article about it was published by The Hill.

Staff Employment Controversy

In 2025, reports surfaced that Diego de la Vega, a former staff member of Ocasio-Cortez, self-deported to Colombia. De la Vega, who was born in Ecuador, had been employed in Ocasio-Cortez’s office and had previously been a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She claimed employing illegal aliens and paying them with taxpayer funds was legal under the DACA protections (it wasn’t true then and it is not true today). Congressional rules prohibit DACA recipients (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and those without legal work authorization from holding paid positions in congressional offices.

When AOX refused to give De la Vega a raise, their disagreement resulted in he and his wife self deporting to Colombia. The case portrays the broader implications of employing individuals with uncertain immigration statuses. She knew he was in the country illegally and that being a DACA kid did not qualify him to work in any congressional position yet she hired him anyway and used taxpayer funds to provide him with a salary and benefits for several years.

Public Statements and Legal Interpretations

Ocasio-Cortez has made several public statements regarding immigration law that have been criticized for inaccuracies. In 2018, she claimed that illegal immigration was not criminalized until 1999. Fact-checkers have disputed this, noting that unlawful entry into the U.S. has been a criminal offense since at least 1929, with subsequent legislation intensifying penalties. Additionally, her assertion that applying for refugee status is not a crime has been contested, as seeking asylum involves specific legal procedures and requirements.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and “The Squad”

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is one of the founding members of a group of progressive Democratic lawmakers informally known as “The Squad.” This cohort first gained attention after the 2018 midterm elections and is known for its left-wing advocacy on issues such as climate change, criminal justice reform, and immigration. As of 2025, the original Squad includes:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
Ilhan Omar (MN-5)
Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)
Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)

Newer members who have since been associated with the Squad include:

Cori Bush (MO-1)
Jamaal Bowman (NY-16)
Summer Lee (PA-12)
Greg Casar (TX-35)
Delia Ramirez (IL-3)

Critics, particularly on the political right, have labeled the Squad’s actions and rhetoric as “anti-American” — though supporters counter that these lawmakers are pushing for systemic change to make America live up to its founding ideals.

Policy Positions and Criticisms

The Squad is known for opposing American military interventionism, calling for cuts to the defense budget, and supporting measures like the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and comprehensive immigration reform. Opponents argue these policies are unrealistic or radical and accuse Squad members of undermining national unity or constitutional norms.

Ocasio-Cortez, in particular, has drawn criticism for her statements about U.S. border enforcement. For example:

In 2019, she said the U.S. was running “concentration camps” at the southern border. Historians and political figures from both parties condemned the comparison as inappropriate and historically inaccurate.
She has repeatedly said that “asylum seekers are not illegal”, which is not true—those who present themselves at a port of entry and follow asylum procedures are within the law. However, not all who claim asylum do so legally, and there are legal distinctions between “illegal entry” and “asylum claims” under 8 U.S. Code § 1325, which criminalizes improper entry.

Tensions with Immigration Officials

In 2019, Ocasio-Cortez clashed publicly with Tom Homan, the former acting director of ICE. During a congressional hearing, she sharply questioned him about family separations and accused him of endorsing cruelty. At one point she told him, “You’re not helping the situation,” and he rebuked her interpretation of the law, saying, “I’ve enforced the laws that Congress passed.” She later wrote letters and made public comments targeting Homan and other Trump administration officials for their roles in immigration enforcement. While no legal threats were made, critics interpreted her language as inflammatory or confrontational.

Border Visit and Public Perception

Ocasio-Cortez gained attention for a widely shared 2018 photo showing her at a detention facility fence, appearing emotionally distressed and crying. Supporters viewed this as a powerful statement about migrant suffering. Critics, however, accused her of staging a photo-op, especially after photos showed the area beyond the fence appeared empty. She has maintained the visit was authentic and emotionally overwhelming. Many forget that the class she exceled at in college was acting.

Alignment and Allegiances

The Squad has consistently opposed any of President Donald Trump’s policies. Ocasio-Cortez has accused Trump of “fascism,” “white nationalism,” and “state violence.” In 2019, Trump told Squad members to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came,” despite three of the four being U.S.-born citizens.

That they were born in the United States is not the issue. Their issue is that they hate the United States and everything it stands for. They wish the United States to become a communist, socialist country. As for squad member Ilhan Oman, she has actually promoted the leader of her native country Somalia and vowed allegiance to Somalia – but has not vowed allegiance to the United States.