Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley has criticized calls for the prosecution of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) over her hosting of an immigration webinar, calling such a move "an assault on free speech rights."
The controversy stems from a "Know Your Rights" webinar streamed on AOC's Facebook page last week, which aimed to educate individuals on courses of action when dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump's border czar Tom Homan has questioned the legality of the congresswoman's efforts, calling on the Department of Justice to determine if AOC had interfered with law enforcement.
Turley, a legal scholar, took to social media platform X to voice his concerns about Homan's accusations:
"Border Czar Tom Homan doubled down last night that Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) might be prosecuted for hosting a forum on 'Know Your Rights' for accused illegal aliens. Such a prosecution would be an assault on free speech rights. While AOC has never been a defender of free speech, principle demands something more from the rest of us who value the First Amendment. Just as VP Vance offered a powerful defense of free speech in Europe, this baseless threat undermines the high ground achieved in Munich"
Border Czar Tom Homan doubled down last night that Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) might be prosecuted for hosting a forum on ‘Know Your Rights’ for accused illegal aliens. Such a prosecution would be an assault on free speech rights...
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) February 17, 2025
Homan has been vocal in his criticism of Ocasio-Cortez's actions. Last week he went on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" to voice his criticism. "Is that impeding our law enforcement efforts? If so, what are we going to do about it? Is she crossing the line? Maybe AOC's gonna be in trouble now."
Ocasio-Cortez responded to Homan's initial remarks with sarcasm, mocking him on social media platform Bluesky: "'MaYbe shE's goiNg to be in TroUble nOw,'" she wrote, adding that "maybe he can learn to read" and that "The Constitution would be a good place to start." Upon Homan's latest round of criticism, AOC responded once more through social media:
This is why you fight these cowards. The moment you stand up to them, they crumble. Homan has nothing. The Fourth Amendment is clear and I am well within my duties to educate people of their rights. He can threaten me with jail and call names all he wants. He’s got nothing else.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc.bsky.social) 2025-02-18T03:17:47.502Z
The webinar in question, which focused on constitutional protections under the Fourth Amendment, has sparked debate over the line between legal education and obstruction of justice. International Human Rights Law Specialist Isabelle Vladoiu told The Latin Times on Tuesday that while educating individuals about their rights is important, such efforts should not cross legal boundaries:
"Legal education should empower individuals by providing them with knowledge of their rights, such as their protections under the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, their right to remain silent, and their right to legal representation. However, these efforts should not cross the line into actively advising individuals on how to avoid law enforcement actions"
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