Senator's Aide in Immigration Impersonation Scandal
A staff member working for liberal Wisconsin Senator Tammy Duckworth has been caught in a serious controversy after allegedly pretending to be an immigration lawyer to secure the release of an illegal immigrant from federal custody.
According to acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Edward York, who serves as Duckworth's outreach coordinator, presented himself as legal counsel for Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval, a 40-year-old Mexican national who had previously been deported from the United States four times.
The Alleged Deception Unfolds
The incident occurred on October 29 when York reportedly appeared at the ICE field office lobby and identified himself as Sandoval's attorney. He then demanded access to speak with his supposed 'client,' who was being held following a DUI conviction in St. Louis, Illinois.
Lyons revealed in a formal letter to Senator Duckworth that York successfully obtained a meeting with Sandoval and convinced him to sign a G-28 form, which officially authorises an individual to represent someone in immigration matters and speak to government agencies on their behalf.
More alarmingly, the staff member allegedly falsified an official Department of Homeland Security form to accomplish his mission of gaining the detainee's release from custody.
How the Scheme Unravelled
The deception began to collapse when a separate law firm, the Suarez Law Office in Collinsville, Illinois, attempted to electronically file a G-28 form that lacked Sandoval's signature. This occurred just four days after York had already obtained a properly signed version of the same document.
ICE authorities became suspicious when a since-made-private Facebook page described a congressional staffer visiting ICE under false pretences. Director Lyons expressed serious concerns about York's legal credentials, noting there's no verification that he holds a license to practice law anywhere in the United States.
Political Fallout and Official Response
In his strongly worded letter, Lyons implored all members of Congress and their staff to cease political games that endanger law enforcement and detainees. He specifically urged Duckworth to advocate for constituents affected by illegal alien crime and collaborate with DHS to remove criminal offenders from the country.
Senator Duckworth has been given until November 17 to respond to multiple critical questions, including whether York remains employed in her office and whether he deliberately misled federal agents during the incident.
The 57-year-old senator, who was re-elected for her second term in 2022, now faces mounting pressure to address the conduct of her staff member and the serious implications for immigration enforcement procedures.
