In response to a typically tone-deaf statement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), social media users slammed her for publicly advising illegal immigrants to commit tax fraud. One prominent critic, conservative influencer Paul A. Syzpula, said that her remarks were potentially criminal and advocated for the authorities to “arrest this menace.”

For context, AOC is part of the “Squad,” an informal group of extremist Democrats in the House who are marked out by their extremist rhetoric and over-the-top public statements. Since rising to prominence in 2018, she has routinely embarrassed herself by freaking out over the deportation of illegal immigrants.

Beginning on April 12, 2025, AOC spoke to a member of the press who asked her if illegal immigrants should file their taxes, given recent changes to immigration enforcement. She controversially replied, “Well, I mean, this is the damage of what this administration has done. It has always been a near safe understanding that undocumented people were safe in paying their taxes in the hope that we could one day have a breakthrough and regularized status for people who contributed to our country.”

Building on that point, she described illegal immigrants as those “who did their best to pay their taxes
and get into all of our systems. And so this betrayal has made this question very difficult, and
it’s horrible for the country.”

Concluding her remarks, she went on a far-left rant against the wealthy. The Democrat said, “Undocumented people pay billions and billions of dollars in taxes, more than a lot of multinational corporations have in US taxes. So I unfortunately can’t do the answer to that right now, because historically, the answer has always been Yes.”

When a clip of the interaction was posted to X, conservatives were enraged by her blatant disregard for the law. One such comment said, “@AOC says she “can’t give an answer” to whether illegals should pay their taxes. She’s publicly advising illegals that they might get deported if they do pay their taxes. Can you please arrest this menace already @AGPamBondi? AOC is telling illegals to commit federal crimes.”

Building on that point, another lengthy comment blasted the progressive congresswoman for her comments. The reply read, “AOC out here acting like a cartel spokesperson with a congressional badge. Telling illegals not to pay taxes? That’s aiding and abetting tax evasion and encouraging lawlessness, all while sitting in Congress, collecting a taxpayer-funded salary, and pretending to care about the rule of law.”