The Division of Homeland Safety has accused a employees member in U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s workplace of posing as an lawyer to realize entry to and assist launch a detained immigrant, in keeping with a letter despatched to the Illinois senator.
Within the letter dated Wednesday, reviewed by Fox Information, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Performing Director Todd Lyons accused Duckworth’s Constituent Outreach Coordinator of getting into a downstate ICE facility on October 29. Edward York allegedly informed a federal officer he was the lawyer for Jose Ayuzo Sandoval, a 40-year-old Mexican nationwide who has been deported 4 occasions and likewise has a 17-year-old misdemeanor DUI conviction.
ICE informed KSDK-TV in St. Louis that Ayuzo’s first try and enter the U.S. illegally occurred when he was 19 years previous. He crossed the border 4 occasions between 2003 and 2005, solely to be rapidly apprehended and returned to Mexico every time, the outlet reported.
Lyons’ letter stated Duckworth’s aide entered the ICE facility and “claimed to be Mr. Ayuzo’s lawyer” and “demanded to talk along with his consumer.” York met with Ayuzo and obtained his signature on a G-28 kind, which formally authorizes an lawyer to characterize a consumer in immigration issues, in keeping with the letter.
ICE believes York “falsified an official DHS kind” to realize entry to Ayuzo and help along with his launch. 4 days later, a G-28 kind was filed electronically by a Collinsville, Illinois, legislation agency with out Ayuzo’s signature, regardless that York had already obtained a signed copy in individual. Lyons steered York “could have collaborated with the agency to cowl his misrepresentation.”
York “is going through very severe potential costs if these allegations are true,” stated Jonathan Turley, a legislation professor and veteran authorized analyst for media retailers.
“We want extra particulars, which haven’t been forthcoming from the Duckworth workplace on whether or not this staffer is an lawyer as allegedly claimed,” Turley continued.
On Wednesday afternoon, DHS posted a video purporting to point out York on the facility. “We stay up for a response from Senator Duckworth,” the publish stated.
This @SenDuckworth employees member allegedly claimed to be the lawyer of a 40-year-old unlawful immigrant who had been deported to Mexico 4 occasions and had a DUI conviction, as a way to search his launch from custody. He completed this by falsifying an official Division of Homeland… pic.twitter.com/R3ggCwolE6
— Homeland Safety (@DHSgov) November 12, 2025
The company stated it discovered no report of York being a licensed lawyer. It additionally famous that the Montgomery County, Illinois, Democrats’ Fb web page posted a few staffer going to an ICE discipline workplace with paperwork and a launch order, “misrepresenting himself to legislation enforcement,” which raised extra considerations.
Lyons’ letter requested Duckworth to reply by November 17 with details about York’s employment standing, whether or not he knowingly falsified authorities paperwork, and whether or not different employees members had been conscious of his actions.
“I implore all members of Congress and their employees to cease the political video games that put legislation enforcement and detainees in danger,” Lyons wrote. “It’s my honest hope that you’ll advocate on behalf of your constituents who’ve been victimized by unlawful alien crime and work with DHS to take away these criminals from america.”
The Legal professional Registration and Disciplinary Fee’s database of licensed Illinois attorneys yielded no outcomes for the identify “Edward York.”
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