Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a fiery town hall performance in Jackson Heights, Queens, where she condemned the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) budget cuts, and what she described as escalating attacks on civil liberties and free speech. The event quickly turned heated, as the congresswoman was heckled by protesters over the administration’s stance on Gaza.
Addressing the crowd, Ocasio-Cortez criticized Trump’s efforts to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 600,000 Venezuelans and condemned the arrest of pro-Palestinian student demonstrators on college campuses. She warned that the administration’s actions threaten to dismantle core American values.
“This is anti-immigration,” she said, urging attendees to see through political spin. “Our civil liberties and protections are what make this country strong. And those are exactly what they’re tearing apart.”
She warned that recent crackdowns and policy decisions were chipping away at the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental idea of due process. “When we gut those protections,” she said, “we degrade what it means to be an American.”
The congresswoman also didn’t hold back when addressing the Trump administration’s environmental cuts, saying the slash-and-burn approach to federal programs was harming communities nationwide. “Anything that helps people or the planet, they want to cut,” she said. “They don’t seem to understand how much damage they’re causing.”
Ocasio-Cortez, who has frequently clashed with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, issued a direct challenge during the event. “Come for me,” she said, referring to his recent comments on immigration critics.
But the town hall wasn’t without confrontation. A protester interrupted the event, shouting about the war in Gaza and accusing Ocasio-Cortez of ignoring genocide. “I’m a nurse shame on you,” the protester yelled, calling the congresswoman a “liar” before being escorted out.
Despite the disruption, Ocasio-Cortez attempted to keep the tone measured. She reminded attendees that the Q&A portion was their time to speak, but asked for mutual respect. “You’re welcome here, even if you disagree with me,” she said. “But we can’t let one voice shut out everyone else.”
The New York congresswoman, widely speculated to be weighing a 2028 presidential run, has been crisscrossing the country with Sen. Bernie Sanders on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. Their rallies have drawn large crowds and increasing speculation about her future ambitions.
Ocasio-Cortez recently broke fundraising records, pulling in $9.5 million during the first quarter of 2025 and entering the second quarter with $8.2 million in cash on hand. Her political momentum, combined with vocal opposition to the Trump administration’s policies, is fueling further speculation about her next move on the national stage.
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