Democrat Staffer Allegedly Duped DHS Into Releasing Illegal immigrant

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused a staff member from Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office of falsely claiming to be an attorney to secure the release of a detained migrant in federal custody.

DHS alleged that a staff member from Duckworth’s office claimed to be the lawyer of a 40-year-old undocumented immigrant who had been deported to Mexico four times and had a DUI conviction.

The departed also alleged that the individual falsified an official DHS form to obtain the detainee’s release and said, “We look forward to a response from Senator Duckworth.”

Newsweek reached out to Duckworth’s office for comment via email.

Why It Matters

There is growing tension between DHS and Democratic lawmakers after the administration launched Operation Midway Blitz, which has increased immigration arrests in the state of Illinois through more aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations.

What To Know

The incident took place on October 29 at an ICE field office in St. Louis, Illinois, according to a letter reviewed by Newsweek that was sent by ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Duckworth.

The staffer, identified as Edward York, is listed publicly as a Constituent Outreach Coordinator in Duckworth’s office, ICE said. The letter alleges that York entered the facility and falsely represented himself as the attorney for detainee Jose Isemal Ayuzo Sandoval.

DHS told Newsweek that Ayuzo Sandoval is a Mexican national with a criminal record, including four prior deportations from the United States and a conviction for driving under the influence. He was issued a final order of removal in 2003. ICE arrested Ayuzo Sandoval in Staunton, Illinois, on October 29, 2025, DHS said.

“He was transferred to ICE St. Louis for processing where a Duckworth staffer allegedly tried to remove him from ICE custody by claiming to be his attorney,” Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, told Newsweek.

“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 reads.

During the encounter, York allegedly obtained Ayuzo Sandoval’s signature on a G-28 form, which authorizes an attorney or accredited representative to act on behalf of an individual in immigration proceedings. Four days later, a law firm in Collinsville, Illinois, submitted an electronically filed G-28 form, which was missing the detainee’s signature.

ICE officials determined the document was likely falsified or improperly filed, and a subsequent review found no record that York was a licensed attorney.

“ICE staff could not verify that Mr. York is an attorney. Soon thereafter, a federal officer found a Facebook post on the Montgomery County Illinois Democrats’ page, stating that a member of your staff went to the field office ‘with a packet of documents including a release order,’ with the intention of misrepresenting himself to law enforcement, and then ‘updating all concerned.’ Additionally, the post stated that the office of Illinois Gov. J.D. Pritzker was ‘heavily involved’ in this event,” the letter reads.

What People Are Saying

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons wrote in a letter to Senator Tammy Duckworth: “I implore all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, as well as their staff, to stop the political games that put law enforcement and detainees at risk.”

The Department of Homeland Security wrote on X: “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.”