Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, took a defiant stance on Tuesday, addressing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) warning of “consequences” for actions against Democratic lawmakers involved in a scuffle at an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.
Appearing on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Homan referenced Ocasio-Cortez’s earlier social media statement, saying, “Remember, just a couple weeks ago, AOC went on social media saying if we put a finger on any of her co-workers — Congresspeople that were at our Newark facility, there would be consequences. Well, guess what? We did it. I’m waiting on the consequences.”
His remarks came after federal prosecutors charged Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) in connection with the incident, intensifying a public clash between Homan and Ocasio-Cortez.
Incident at Newark ICE Facility Sparks Charges
The confrontation at the Newark ICE facility involved Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robert Menendez, and LaMonica McIver, alongside Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was arrested and charged with trespassing.
The lawmakers claimed they were conducting lawful oversight of the facility when tensions escalated.
Federal prosecutors subsequently charged McIver with two counts of assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers, each carrying a potential eight-year prison sentence. McIver has called the charges “purely political,” arguing they “mischaracterize and distort” her actions during what she insists was legitimate congressional oversight.
Ocasio-Cortez Defends Colleagues, Targets DHS
In a live stream defending her colleagues, Ocasio-Cortez shifted blame to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), asserting, “If anyone is breaking the law in this situation, it’s not members of Congress, it’s the Department of Homeland Security. It’s people like Tom Homan and Secretary Kristi Noem. You lay a finger on someone — on … any of the representatives that were there. You lay a finger on them, we’re going to have a problem.”
Her remarks framed the incident as an overreach by DHS officials, positioning the lawmakers’ actions as a defense of their oversight rights. The strong rhetoric emphasizes the contentious atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement policies.
Long-Standing Feud Fuels Public Spat
The exchange marks the latest chapter in a years-long feud between Homan and Ocasio-Cortez, characterized by sharp disagreements over immigration policy and enforcement.
Recently, at a town hall, Ocasio-Cortez challenged Homan’s threat to refer her to the Department of Justice over a “Know Your Rights” webinar advising immigrants on their legal protections.
She declared, “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.”
Homan, in turn, quipped on Fox News, “I take pleasure I can live in her mind rent-free every day,” highlighting the personal and political animosity driving their public exchanges.
Overall Implications for Immigration Debate
The ongoing back-and-forth between Homan and Ocasio-Cortez reflects deeper divisions over immigration enforcement and the role of congressional oversight in federal facilities.
Both figures have used high-profile platforms to advance their narratives, with Homan defending strict enforcement measures and Ocasio-Cortez advocating for immigrant protections and transparency.
The Newark incident, coupled with the resulting legal actions, highlights the polarized nature of the immigration debate, as each side accuses the other of overstepping legal and ethical boundaries, further complicating efforts to find common ground.
