A former staffer for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has left the United States for Colombia — raising new concerns about his employment while living in the country illegally for more than two decades.
Diego de la Vega — originally from Ecuador — entered the U.S. as a child in 2001 on a visitor visa and never left. He worked in immigration activism before eventually securing a job on Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021 re-election campaign — later serving as 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
Despite restrictions barring DACA recipients from holding paid congressional positions — de la Vega was employed in Ocasio-Cortez’s office. His departure follows renewed scrutiny of illegal immigration policies under the Trump administration.
Speaking about his decision to leave — de la Vega called it “bittersweet” but expressed relief at no longer living in the U.S. illegally. He described his new life in Colombia as freeing — saying he no longer has to worry about documentation or legal status.
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
Ocasio-Cortez has defended her former aide — saying — “Diego is amazing. We love him.” However — questions remain about how he was able to work for a member of Congress despite his lack of legal status.
De la Vega acknowledged that he may not be able to return to the U.S. for many years — but he stated that leaving felt like a necessary step given his circumstances.
