AOC aide in US illegally self-deports to Colombia

An aide to Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) has self-deported after being in the United States illegally. The aide, Diego de la Vega, said he has "freedom of movement" in Colombia now after he overstayed his visa in the United States.

According to the Washington Free Beacon, De la Vega left the US in December after he overstayed his visa that he received when he was seven years old. On Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez praised de la Vega, saying that "we love him." The aide's self-deportation came shortly after President Donald Trump was elected in November, and since becoming president, he has pushed for a mass deportation effort, starting with those here illegally that are also committing other crimes.

De la Vega has relocated to Bogota to be with his wife, who is another illegal immigrant to the US. In an interview with Migrant Insider, the aide said that he was "illegalized" in the US and that he would have the "freedom of movement" in Colombia. It is not clear how de la Vega was able to be employed by the lawmaker, although he was barred from working in Congress because of his legal status.

De la Vega told the outlet Migrant Insider that he "lived in fear" of deportation because he was in the US illegally. He also added that he may return at some point "many years" down the line. He also added that he "had a pretty good childhood in New York" growing up.

Since Trump has taken office, illegal border crossings have dropped to their lowest level in years. The Trump administration's Border Czar Tom Homan has also referred material put out by Ocasio-Cortez's office that teaches illegal immigrants on how to avoid deportation.