In a significant turn of events, a former aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has chosen to leave the United States, aligning with President Trump’s immigration policies. Diego de la Vega, who worked as a deputy communications director for AOC after his involvement in her 2021 campaign, decided to self-deport to Colombia, citing safety concerns about living in America.
According to Migrant Insider, De la Vega came to the U.S. from Quito, Ecuador, at the tender age of seven, initially on a visitor’s visa that was overstayed. Reflecting on his past, he acknowledged the fear that came with his illegal status but also appreciated the opportunities he seized.
“It was very clear to me early on that our status was different. Even as a child, I understood what being illegal meant. We knew we had to protect ourselves,” de la Vega explained to Migrant Insider. “We lived in fear because we were not of the right status, but I had a pretty good childhood in New York.
We worked hard, starting out in a basement apartment. But we went to school and got jobs.”
Now feeling like the U.S. is a place of exile, De la Vega has little hope of returning.
“It’s bittersweet. I hadn’t left the country in 23 years — from age seven to age 30,” he said in the interview. “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. And, after some time, it’s been a real pleasure to be here.”
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez expressed nothing but admiration for her former aide.
“Diego is amazing,” Ocasio-Cortez told Migrant Insider. “We love him.”
His self-deportation closely followed President Trump’s victorious election in November. As per CBS News, the Trump administration’s crackdown has led to a dramatic decrease in border crossings, with the U.S. Border Patrol recording about 8,450 apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border last month—numbers not seen in over two decades.
With high-profile cases like an aide to AOC opting to leave, one can only imagine the impact on less privileged individuals who are taking similar actions. The impressive decrease in illegal immigration under Trump’s leadership may be only the tip of the iceberg.
