Senate Staff Member Allegedly Pretended to Be Lawyer for Individual Deported Four Times, According to DHS

Department of Homeland Security Accuses Senate Staffer of Impersonation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has charged a staff member from Democratic Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office with pretending to be a lawyer in an attempt to secure the release of a repeatedly deported immigrant.

According to a letter outlined by Fox News, DHS officials stated that the Senate aide intervened in an immigration case concerning Jose Ismir Ayuzo Sandoval, a 40-year-old Mexican national who has faced deportation from the U.S. four times and has a previous DUI conviction. Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), mentioned the incident in a letter to Duckworth, emphasizing that the actions breached protocols and put federal officers in danger.

“Around 1:29 p.m., an individual named Edward York, reportedly employed as the Constituent Assistance Coordinator in the Senate Office, entered the lobby of the local ICE office and asserted he was Mr. Ayuzo’s attorney. He requested to communicate with his ‘client,’” the letter detailed.

Lyons informed Duckworth that false representations like this were used to contact detainees and encourage their release.

“This employee allegedly did so to gain access to detainees and facilitate their release, using forged DHS documents,” the letter further explained.

Once in the office, York convinced Ayuzo to sign a G-28 form, which authorizes a lawyer’s representation in immigration issues. This form enables representatives to receive federal notifications, submit documents, and communicate directly with federal agencies. Lyons noted that York later tried to submit a version of the G-28 lacking Ayuzo’s signature, although he had correctly obtained it during the meeting.

Four days later, another version surfaced.

“The Suarez Law Firm from Collinsville, Illinois, electronically filed a G-28 form without Mr. Ayuzo’s signature, despite Mr. York, claiming to work for that firm, having already secured a signed document,” the letter added.

ICE could not verify York’s status as an attorney. Concerns heightened when officials found a Facebook post from the Montgomery County Democratic Party in Illinois, which praised agents who visited ICE offices with misleading documents and release orders.

Lyons’ letter requested Duckworth’s office to reply by November 17, addressing whether York knowingly misrepresented himself, if others were aware of his actions, and if he misused his government role during this incident. The acting director issued a warning to Senate offices regarding political actions that might obstruct federal enforcement.

“I urge all members of the U.S. House and Senate and their staff to cease political maneuvers that jeopardize law enforcement and detainees,” Lyons stated, as reported by Fox News. “On behalf of my constituents affected by crimes committed by illegal aliens, I hope you will collaborate with DHS to remove these offenders from the U.S.”