AOC’s High-Level Hire of an Illegal Alien—Who Escaped ICE—Exposes a Pattern of Harboring Undocumented Immigrants in Violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324a

Legal Ramifications Under 8 U.S.C. § 1324a

To fully grasp the gravity of the situation, it is essential to understand the legal framework provided by 8 U.S.C. § 1324a. This statute is designed to penalize the illegal transportation, harboring, and employment of undocumented immigrants. For basic violations—such as those involving unauthorized entry—the law provides for a maximum imprisonment of one year. However, when it comes to offenses involving the transportation or harboring of undocumented individuals, the penalties increase dramatically, with maximum sentence of up to five years.

Under 8 U.S.C. § 1324a, when illegal activities are pursued for commercial gain or personal financial advantage—including through her direct facilitation of illegal aliens evading ICE enforcement—the law mandates harsher penalties.

For someone in de la Vega’s position, who not only violated immigration laws by living illegally in the U.S. but also secured a high-level position with access to sensitive governmental information, the consequences could be severe for AOC. Legal experts warn that if these combined violations are proven, the maximum sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1324a could escalate to as much as 10 years behind bars.