Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday on “Hannity” that it’s “entirely appropriate” for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her comments to illegal migrants.
During a Friday town hall in Jackson Heights, Queens, Ocasio-Cortez taunted border czar Tom Homan to “come” for her, escalating public tensions that began in February. Fox News host Sean Hannity asked Noem whether the congresswoman’s prior remarks could be considered “aiding and abetting” and whether the DOJ should “look into this situation.”
“I think the Department of Justice absolutely should look into this situation,” Noem said. “We’ve seen not just those that serve in public office be willing to break the law to facilitate the invasion that has happened and allow criminals to stay here. We’ve also seen judges take radical action to help protect these criminals. It’s time that we stand for what’s right.”
On Feb. 12, Ocasio-Cortez hosted a virtual event on her Facebook page titled “Know Your Rights With ICE,” where she advised illegal migrants how to respond to encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at home or in the workplace. (RELATED: Illegal Migrants Can Net $1,000 From Uncle Sam If They Deport Themselves, DHS Says)
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Days after the event, Homan issued a warning to Ocasio-Cortez, telling Fox News he had begun working with the DOJ to determine whether her webinar obstructed the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.
Since the initial exchange in February, the two have called out one another publicly, with Ocasio-Cortez eventually asking the DOJ if she was under investigation.
“The American people are sick of these people abusing our system to try to promote an agenda. Remember, the Democrats are using fear to control people. They’re out there motivating people by fear, and they’re standing alongside known terrorists in order to endanger our future,” Noem said. “So I think it’s entirely appropriate that the Department of Justice look into these situations.”
Democrats have repeatedly pushed back against Noem’s and Homan’s efforts to carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportations. Amid the ongoing legal battle surrounding Kilmar Armando Abrego-Garcia—an illegal migrant allegedly tied to MS-13 — some Democrats have even taken taxpayer-funded trips to El Salvador to advocate for his return to the U.S.
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(The Center Square) – A visit to Springfield Wednesday by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is sparking debate over Illinois’ migrant sanctuary policies.
Noem flew into Springfield’s airport and then went to a Springfield DHS processing center to talk with federal agents and two non-citizens being processed.
The motorcade then stopped in a residential area of Springfield near downtown, where she stood with family of Illinoisans who lost lives allegedly at the hands of illegal immigrants or by fentanyl overdose. Noem urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to cooperate with federal officials.
“Gov. Pritzker, change your ways. Protect your people. Help us clean up our streets and help us stop this violent, illegal alien criminal activity that is happening in your state,” she said.
Noem’s news conference took place near the home of Emma Shafer, who was murdered allegedly by her non-citizen boyfriend who remains on the run.
“Just a couple of houses away from here, Emma Shafer was brutally stabbed and murdered by an illegal immigrant who was released into the United States by the Biden administration,” she said.
Protesters then arrived at the location, some saying Shafer’s family doesn’t support Noem.
Across town at the state capitol, Democrats and immigrant advocates gathered. Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said Noem didn’t stay long.
“Instead of doing their job, they are dividing our country and yet here we are gathered in unity. We stand together, working, dreaming, voting, winning,” Harmon said.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, joined the rally.
“The dystopian vision of Illinois that Secretary Noem outlined today bore no resemblance to the communities we represent here today,” Welch said.
Illinois Republicans say the state should amend the law that prohibits state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials in enforcing civil detention orders. They also say Illinois’ sanctuary laws harm public safety and drain Illinois tax dollars for non-citizen health care subsidies and more.