Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is seeking answers from the U.S. Department of Justice after learning that she may be the subject of a federal investigation tied to her immigration-related outreach efforts. The New York Democrat expressed deep concern that her public communications—aimed at informing immigrant communities of their constitutional rights—may have prompted a politically motivated attempt to prosecute her.

This week, Ocasio-Cortez sent a formal letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting clarification after border czar Tom Homan publicly claimed he had referred her to the Justice Department for potential criminal charges. According to Homan, Ocasio-Cortez’s recent online event offering “Know Your Rights” guidance to immigrant audiences might constitute aiding and abetting efforts to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

In her letter, Ocasio-Cortez said the situation raises troubling questions about whether the DOJ is being used to target political speech.

“I write to request clarity on whether the Department of Justice has yielded to political pressure and attempts to weaponize the agency against elected officials whose speech they disagree with,” she wrote. She argued that Homan’s televised comments—specifically his claim that she would be “in trouble now”—suggest an effort to intimidate an elected official for public outreach work.

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that the information she shared with her constituents centered on constitutional rights, not advice on evading law enforcement. “Homan’s actions undercut core Constitutional rights and further transparency is necessary,” she continued, citing the First Amendment and the role of lawmakers in providing accessible civic education. She urged the DOJ to inform her by March 5 whether she or her office is, in fact, under investigation.

The controversy stems from an Instagram Live webinar Ocasio-Cortez hosted earlier this month. The event, broadcast in English and Spanish, featured attorneys from the Immigrant Defense Project and focused on how individuals should respond during ICE encounters. Her office later distributed informational flyers outlining ICE procedures and legal protections available to immigrants.

Homan, however, has publicly alleged that the materials went beyond legal education and instead offered strategies to help undocumented individuals avoid detention. In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, he said he sent a request to the Deputy Attorney General urging an investigation into the congresswoman’s actions.

“She wants to go out and say she’s teaching people their constitutional rights. Yeah, you can call it that,” Homan said. “But we all know what she’s up to. She wants to tell these people how to evade arrest, how to evade ICE.” He argued that the congresswoman’s messaging creates obstacles for federal authorities attempting to detain individuals with serious criminal convictions.

Homan also criticized Ocasio-Cortez for publicly opposing immigration enforcement while serving in a legislative body responsible for shaping immigration law. “As a member of Congress, you would think she’d want ICE to enforce the laws they enact,” he said, adding that her outreach could put officers and the public at greater risk.

During the Fox News segment, Hannity suggested that Ocasio-Cortez may attempt to defend her actions as protected First Amendment speech but questioned whether her conduct could cross the line into unlawfully aiding individuals in avoiding arrest.

“That’s exactly the question I posed to the Deputy Attorney General,” Homan responded. He claimed that throughout his career, efforts to obstruct immigration enforcement have been taken seriously, and he believes Ocasio-Cortez’s webinar may fall into that category.

Ocasio-Cortez, meanwhile, maintains that the accusations against her are an effort to chill free expression and intimidate political opponents. She argues that informing the public of their rights—particularly during periods of heightened enforcement and uncertainty—is a core responsibility of elected officials. “A government that uses threats of DOJ investigations to suppress free speech is a threat to all,” she wrote.

She further cited Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent remarks, noting that even political opponents have said elected leaders must defend one another’s right to public speech. For Ocasio-Cortez, the issue transcends immigration policy and touches on the fundamental relationship between political discourse and government authority.

The Justice Department has not publicly stated whether it has opened an investigation into Ocasio-Cortez. Her letter requests immediate transparency, arguing that the possibility of a politically driven probe could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.

As Homan and Ocasio-Cortez trade public accusations, the dispute has become a new flashpoint in the broader national conflict over immigration enforcement, the limits of political speech, and the role of Congress in shaping public understanding of constitutional rights. Whether the Justice Department chooses to act—and how it responds—may determine whether this controversy fades quickly or escalates into a prolonged legal and political battle.