In a recent Fox Business interview, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), delivered a stern message to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC): if she follows in the footsteps of several recently arrested Democrats by interfering with federal operations, she could face arrest.
The warning stems from a high-profile incident in Newark, New Jersey, where Representatives Lamonica McIver, Rob Menendez, and Bonnie Watson Coleman—alongside Newark Mayor Ras Baraka—entered an ICE facility without authorization. The group claimed the facility was acting unlawfully, but the situation escalated when Rep. McIver was filmed physically clashing with DHS and ICE officers. The video sparked intense public debate.
Reacting on Instagram, AOC released a strongly worded video, suggesting that any legal action against her fellow Democrats would prompt direct confrontation with DHS. “If you lay a hand on Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman or any of the others present that day, we’re going to have a serious problem,” she warned.
AOC also defended fellow Democrat Robert Menendez while criticizing South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, stating, “If Kristi Noem breaks the law, that’s on her. But there’s no reason Robert Menendez should be facing charges. Let’s be clear.”
She went on to argue that members of Congress have a legal right to inspect ICE and CBP facilities. “The law mandates that we have access,” she said. “We’re constitutionally obligated to investigate and oversee these institutions.”
But DHS’s McLaughlin dismissed that interpretation. Responding to AOC’s remarks on The Bottom Line with Fox News, she made it clear that federal law enforcement would not hesitate to act. “If Representative Ocasio-Cortez chooses to break the law or physically confront officers, as we’ve already seen, then yes—arrest is absolutely on the table,” McLaughlin said. “We’ve heard the argument that it’s about oversight, but unlawful entry and violence are not protected actions.”
McLaughlin’s comments serve as a clear signal that DHS views these confrontations not as oversight—but as obstruction.
