Former Illegal Immigrant Aide to AOC Self-Deports to Colombia Amid Employment Questions

Diego de la Vega, a former aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has made the surprising decision to self-deport to Colombia after years of living in the United States as an undocumented immigrant. His move is raising questions about how he managed to work in Congress while being in the country illegally.

Born in Ecuador, de la Vega came to the U.S. on a visitor’s visa in 2001 at the age of seven and stayed past its expiration. After 23 years in the U.S., he described his departure as "bittersweet." "Now, I can’t go back to the U.S. It feels like exile. It’s a very permanent move. But my wife and I are confident we made the right decision," he told Migrant Insider. Despite the difficulties, he noted, "It feels surreal to not be illegalized anymore. That freedom of movement is incredibly satisfying."

De la Vega became politically active following the failure of the 2010 Dream Act, which fell just five votes short in the Senate. His career saw him working for immigrant rights groups and later as communications director for Robert Rodriguez, a New York State Assembly member. In 2021, he joined Ocasio-Cortez’s re-election campaign and eventually became her deputy communications director.

Yet, his employment with Ocasio-Cortez has sparked scrutiny. As a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, de la Vega was not eligible for paid positions in congressional offices. This fact underscores the complexities and contradictions in immigration and employment laws, especially for those in high-profile roles. Ocasio-Cortez herself praised him, saying, "Diego is amazing. We love him."

Reflecting on his time in Congress, de la Vega said, "We were always honest with voters in New York City. We didn’t dumb it down or tell them what they wanted to hear. We engaged with them honestly." However, his frustrations with the lack of progress on immigration reform were evident. "Protections are going away, regardless of who is in the White House. The strategy hasn’t adapted to the modern era," he said, adding that even under President Biden's control of the House, Senate, and White House, "the ball was dropped."

The move to Colombia, while daunting, appears to have brought a sense of closure for de la Vega. He acknowledged that he may not return to the U.S. "for many years" but expressed fulfillment in feeling "at home" in South America. As he navigates a new chapter of his life, his story shines a light on the intersection of personal resilience and the challenges of systemic immigration hurdles.