AOC’s top aide has chosen to self-deport after living illegally in the United States for over two decades. The decision implicates AOC in a possible crime and could get her in a lot of trouble.
At a glance:
• Diego de la Vega, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador, self-deported to Colombia after living in the U.S. for 23 years
• De la Vega worked as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Deputy Communications Director until December
• He overstayed a visitor’s visa since 2001 and became politically active following the Dream Act’s failure
• AOC praised de la Vega as “amazing” despite his illegal status
• DACA recipients like de la Vega are prohibited from paid positions in congressional offices
AOC’s Illegal Immigrant Staffer Leaves America Behind
Diego de la Vega, a former top aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has self-deported to Colombia after living illegally in the United States for 23 years. And somehow, AOC has never been called out on hiring a literal illegal alien…
The Ecuadorian national had been working as AOC’s Deputy Communications Director until December, and originally entered the country legally but overstayed his visitor’s visa as of 2001. De la Vega remained in the U.S. illegally from age seven to thirty. His decision to leave comes amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration for companies to stop hiring illegals and for sanctuary cities to start arresting them.
Despite federal regulations prohibiting DACA recipients from holding paid positions in congressional offices, de la Vega – a recipient of the program – was somehow employed by AOC’s team. Ocasio-Cortez has publicly praised her former staffer, stating, “Diego is amazing. We love him,” but her office has declined to respond to media inquiries regarding his employment.
So…she admitted it. And she was paying him with your tax money, too!
Political Career Built on Illegal Status
Prior to joining AOC’s team in 2022, de la Vega built a career in Democratic politics despite his illegal status. He also previously worked for former Harlem Assemblymember Robert J. Rodriguez and interned for US Rep. Carolyn Maloney, accumulating significant political experience while remaining in the country unlawfully.
“It’s bittersweet. I hadn’t left the country in 23 years — from age seven to age 30. Now, I can’t go back to the US. It feels like exile. It’s a very permanent move. But my wife and I are confident we made the right decision. And, after some time, it’s been a real pleasure to be here,” de la Vega said about his decision to self-deport.
De la Vega became politically active following the failure of the Dream Act in 2010, but has grown disillusioned with the immigration movement’s progress. He pointed to Democratic failures, stating, “Protections are going away, regardless of who is in the White House. The strategy hasn’t adapted to the modern era. Biden had a trifecta — the House, Senate and White House, but dropped the ball.”
The revelation that one of AOC’s top staffers was living and working illegally in the country undermines Democrats’ claims about immigration enforcement. They obviously don’t care about it, whatever some of them might say.
The question now is: will she be arrested and held accountable for what she did?
