A former aide to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has left the United States for Colombia after years of living in the country illegally — raising concerns about how he was employed while working in a congressional office.

Diego de la Vega — originally from Ecuador — arrived in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa in 2001 but overstayed — remaining in the country for more than two decades. He recently relocated to Bogotá — citing relief at no longer living under the threat of deportation.

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“It’s bittersweet,” de la Vega said — describing his decision to leave the country. “I can’t go back to the U.S. It feels like exile.” Despite the move — he claimed to be enjoying “freedom of movement” that was not possible while he was in the U.S. illegally.

De la Vega became politically active after the failure of the Dream Act in 2010 and later worked for an immigrant rights group. He eventually served as communications director for New York State Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez before joining Ocasio-Cortez’s re-election campaign in 2021. He later became her deputy communications director.

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Federal law prohibits DACA recipients from holding paid positions in Congress — raising questions about how de la Vega was employed while working for Ocasio-Cortez. When asked about her former aide — Ocasio-Cortez responded — “Diego is amazing. We love him.”

De la Vega admitted frustration with the state of immigration policy in the U.S. — blaming Democrats for failing to enact reforms even when they controlled Congress and the White House. He acknowledged that he may not be able to return to the U.S. “for many years.”