Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is no stranger to confrontation, but her latest remarks may be her most defiant yet.
At a packed town hall in New York City on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez responded to comments from Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, who claimed she could be in “trouble” for holding a “Know Your Rights with ICE” webinar. Homan accused her of potentially impeding immigration enforcement.
Her response? Clear, sharp, and unapologetic:
“Do I look like I care? Come for me—you’re going to have to.”
The crowd erupted in applause, and just hours later, so did Twitter.
AOC Fires Back on Twitter
Ocasio-Cortez followed up with a tweet that quickly gained traction, signaling she wasn’t backing down:
@AOC
If helping my constituents understand their constitutional rights gets me “in trouble,” then so be it.
Know your rights. Use your rights. That’s how we protect democracy.
And no, I don’t care what Tom Homan thinks.
#FirstAmendment #NotBackingDown
🕘 11:12 PM · May 2, 2025
AOC: Tom Homan said he was going to refer me to DOJ because I’m using my free speech rights in order to advise people of their constitutional protections… to that I say: Come for me… Do I look like I care?
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 2, 2025
There’s nothing illegal about it and if they want to make it illegal,… pic.twitter.com/Lzm94e28Cc
The tweet racked up over 200,000 likes within hours, turning Homan’s attempt at intimidation into a viral backlash.
The Controversy: What Sparked the Clash?
The tension stems from a “Know Your Rights” virtual seminar Ocasio-Cortez held earlier this year to help her constituents navigate encounters with ICE agents. Homan suggested she was interfering with law enforcement and claimed to have sent a letter to the Justice Department about her actions.
This week, he doubled down. When asked whether Democratic governors like Wisconsin’s Tony Evers might also face consequences for offering legal guidance on immigration rights, Homan ominously replied:
“Wait ‘til you see what’s coming.”
Is It Illegal to Educate People on Their Rights?
Legal experts and civil liberties groups were quick to push back.
“There is nothing unlawful about telling people what their rights are,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, a prominent civil rights attorney. “In fact, it’s protected under the First Amendment.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and First Amendment groups have long held that “know your rights” sessions are not just legal but crucial in a democracy.
AOC: “Use It or Lose It”
During her town hall, Ocasio-Cortez doubled down on her message: constitutional rights only work if people know and exercise them.
“Our rights are ‘use it or lose it.’ So we need to use it,” she told the audience.
She warned against allowing intimidation tactics to discourage civic education or free speech.
“Don’t let them scare you into thinking that teaching people their actual legal rights is wrong. It’s not illegal—and if they want to make it illegal, they can come take me.”
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The Broader Chilling Effect
Homan’s warning toward Wisconsin Gov. Evers followed a pattern of political intimidation. Evers was accused of “interfering” with ICE operations after issuing basic guidelines for how state employees should respond if approached by federal agents.
“This is a fake controversy designed to fuel outrage,” Evers said. “It’s about fear, not law.”
The same week, a Milwaukee judge was arrested for allegedly helping a man evade ICE. Critics argue the arrest is part of a broader effort to create fear around immigration support.
What’s at Stake?
With Trump pushing a hardline immigration agenda in his second term, AOC’s comments land at the center of a growing debate: Can elected officials be silenced for informing the public about their rights?
“This isn’t just about immigration,” said journalist Maria Hinojosa. “It’s about who gets to speak freely—and who gets punished for it.”
The Final Word
AOC’s fearless response embodies a larger resistance to authoritarian threats against speech and civic education.
“If they want to make it illegal, they can come take me,” she said. “That’s how I feel about it.”
In today’s political climate, that kind of unapologetic clarity is rare. But for millions watching—online and off—it was also a powerful reminder: free speech isn’t just a right. It’s a responsibility.
