A former aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has left the U.S. for Colombia after living in the country illegally for over two decades, prompting questions about how he was employed in a congressional office despite federal restrictions.
Diego de la Vega, who was born in Ecuador, entered the U.S. on a visitor visa in 2001 at age 7 but never left. Over time, he became involved in immigration activism and worked for political campaigns before being hired by Ocasio-Cortez’s 2021 re-election team. He later served 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 laws barring DACA recipients from holding paid positions in Congress, de la Vega worked for Ocasio-Cortez’s office. The congresswoman has not addressed how he was employed but has publicly praised him, saying, “Diego is amazing. We love him.”
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
De la Vega and his wife, who was also in the U.S. illegally, left the country and settled in Colombia. He described his new situation as liberating, saying he no longer has to fear deportation or deal with documentation issues.
His departure coincides with increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has been cracking down on illegal employment and residency. Border enforcement has also intensified, leading to lower migrant crossings.
While de la Vega expressed frustration with how immigration policies have played out in the U.S., he acknowledged that his return would not be possible for many years.
