From Fox News: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a member of Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s office misrepresented himself as the attorney of a detained illegal immigrant to facilitate their release.
According to a letter sent Wednesday to Duckworth, D-Ill., U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons said the staffer told federal agents he was the attorney of Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval — a 40-year-old illegal immigrant previously deported four times to Mexico and who had a DUI conviction.
The letter says the staffer entered an ICE facility in St. Louis, Illinois, on Oct. 29.
“At approximately 1:29 p.m., an individual identified as Edward York, who according to publicly available information, is employed as a Constituent Outreach Coordinator for your Senate office, entered the field office lobby, and in a discussion with a federal officer, claimed to be Mr. Ayuzo’s attorney. Mr. York demanded to speak with his ‘client,’” the letter states.
“This staff member allegedly did so to gain access to the detainee and seek his release from custody, and he accomplished it by falsifying an official Department of Homeland Security (DHS) form.”
DHS posted a video on X as evidence, and wrote, “This @SenDuckworth staff member allegedly claimed to be the lawyer of a 40-year-old illegal immigrant who had been deported to Mexico 4 times and had a DUI conviction, in order to seek his release from custody. He accomplished this by falsifying an official Department of Homeland Security form. We look forward to a response from Senator Duckworth.”
This @SenDuckworth staff member allegedly claimed to be the lawyer of a 40-year-old illegal immigrant who had been deported to Mexico 4 times and had a DUI conviction, in order to seek his release from custody. He accomplished this by falsifying an official Department of Homeland… pic.twitter.com/R3ggCwolE6
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 12, 2025
As of this report, Duckworth has not released a statement on the scandal, although she has repeatedly been condemning the ICE raids.
Law professor Jonathan Turley reacted to the bombshell report, writing:
The Duckworth staffer shown in the ICE video, who allegedly misrepresents himself to release an undocumented immigrant, is facing very serious potential charges if these allegations are true…
…We need more details, which have not been forthcoming from the Duckworth office on whether this staffer is an attorney as allegedly claimed and whether this was being done under a claim of representing Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval, who was previously deported four times to Mexico and had a DUI conviction…
…We need more details, which have not been forthcoming from the Duckworth office on whether this staffer is an attorney as allegedly claimed and whether this was being done under a claim of representing Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval, who was previously deported four times to…
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) November 12, 2025
READ MORE from Fox News.
Duckworth staffer accused of posing as lawyer in attempt to free illegal immigrant from ICE custody https://t.co/J4QUXuPbmx
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) November 12, 2025
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