1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent actions of Trump’s border czar, who has threatened to report Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) to the Department of Justice for simply educating people about their legal rights when dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence elected officials who are performing their duty to inform and protect their constituents. Knowing one’s legal rights is not a crime—it is a fundamental principle of our justice system. Regardless of one’s political stance on immigration, the idea that an official in a position of power would attempt to weaponize the DOJ against a sitting member of Congress for teaching people about their rights is deeply disturbing. This is a clear abuse of power and an attack on constitutional freedoms, including the right to due process and legal counsel. This kind of authoritarian rhetoric has no place in a democracy. I urge you to publicly denounce these threats, demand accountability from the border czar, and take action to ensure that government officials cannot use their positions to intimidate those who are simply advocating for legal education. Additionally, I ask that you support legislative measures that protect the rights of all individuals—citizens and non-citizens alike—to be informed of their legal protections without fear of retaliation. This is not just about immigration policy; it is about upholding the rule of law and preventing government officials from using their power to silence dissent. I trust that you will take this issue seriously and act in defense of the democratic principles you were elected to uphold. I look forward to your response and to seeing action taken on this matter.