Border czar Tom Homan indicated that U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) could potentially face criminal charges for obstructing deportation efforts and aiding illegal immigrants. On Tuesday evening, the progressive congresswoman hosted an Instagram live webinar called \u201cKnow Your Rights,\u201d where she provided guidance to illegal immigrants on how to \u201cdeal\u201d with ICE.<\/p>\n
The webinar, conducted in both English and Spanish, featured contributions from Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s office and attorneys from the Immigrant Defense Project. \u201cICE raids are political tactics, and they\u2019re often intended to create fear,\u201d Genia Blaser, a lawyer with the Immigrant Defense Project, said on the nearly hour-long webinar.\u00a0\u201cThis is a time where there is a lot of fear. And in fear, it\u2019s really important to have knowledge because knowledge is power,\u201d Blaser went on to say, further telling viewers that ICE agents are \u201coften very aggressive, and the encounters can happen really quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the webinar, the congresswoman\u2019s office is offering information about ICE tactics and advising illegal immigrants on how to \u201cknow your rights.\u201d She is also encouraging immigrants with an outstanding removal order or those concerned about being apprehended by ICE to fill out a privacy release form so her office can step in and offer assistance.<\/p>\n
One flyer on the congresswoman\u2019s website\u00a0notes that \u201cYou do not have to open the door\u201d for ICE agents, and they don\u2019t have the right to enter a home without a valid warrant signed by a judge. \u201cYou can ask them to slip the warrant under the door,\u201d the flyer says. AOC\u2019s office is also providing pro bono services for a number of immigration lawyers.<\/p>\n