A former staffer for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has left the U.S. after living illegally in the country for more than two decades — raising new questions about how he was employed in a congressional office.
Diego de la Vega — born in Ecuador — entered the U.S. on a visitor visa in 2001 but overstayed. He later became involved in progressive politics and worked for immigrant rights organizations before joining Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021 re-election campaign — eventually becoming her deputy communications director.
DID YOU KNOW
AOC's campaign’s Deputy Communication Director was an illegal? He has now self-deported from the US to Colombia.
Why was a sitting member of Congress employing an illegal? pic.twitter.com/UxwZdtjBnI
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 7, 2025
Federal law prohibits DACA recipients from being employed in congressional offices — making his position controversial. Ocasio-Cortez has not addressed the legal concerns surrounding his employment but publicly praised de la Vega — calling him “amazing.”
De la Vega recently moved to Colombia with his wife — stating that he no longer wanted to live under the constant fear of deportation. He described his new situation as freeing — explaining that he now has “freedom of movement” that he did not have in the U.S.
AOC’S ILLEGAL HIRE SCANDAL EXPLODES
🚨 BREAKING: AOC knowingly put an illegal alien—zero work papers, pure lawbreaker—on payroll as her CHIEF OF STAFF.
AOC IS GOING TO JAIL.
Straight-up violated 8 U.S.C. § 1324a, the fed law banning this exact move. She KNEW, hired anyway,… pic.twitter.com/zNtjg8XiNO
— Mila Joy (@MilaLovesJoe) March 8, 2025
His self-deportation comes at a time when the Trump administration has increased enforcement against illegal immigrants — leading to a decline in unlawful border crossings and an uptick in deportations.
Although de la Vega admitted frustration with how immigration policies were handled under Democratic leadership — he said he is content with his decision to leave — even if it means not returning to the U.S. anytime soon.
