A staff member working for Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth has been dismissed after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that he misrepresented himself as an attorney advocating for a detained undocumented immigrant’s release.
Recently, Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), informed Duckworth that the employee, Edward York, claimed to be the legal representative for Jose Ismir Ayuzo Sandoval.
Sandoval, a 40-year-old undocumented individual, has faced multiple drunk driving convictions and has been deported to Mexico four times. After being taken to the hospital, an official reported the incident to federal authorities, according to ICE.
A letter from ICE dated November 12 described how, around 1:29 p.m., York entered the field office lobby and claimed to be Ayuzo’s attorney during a discussion with federal agents. He even requested to speak with his “client.”
The letter further alleged that York sought to contact detainees to facilitate their release from custody, even going so far as to forge official DHS documents.
In a letter responding to ICE, Duckworth confirmed the termination of the employee’s position and stated that neither she nor her leadership team authorized or were aware of the actions described.
Duckworth later reiterated that the employment was officially ended as of November 17, 2025.
Lyons had previously set a deadline for senators to clarify whether they were aware of any misleading hiring practices related to staff or government documents.
In a note dated November 12, Lyons expressed hope that DHS would work towards addressing issues related to undocumented criminals following complaints from constituents affected by such crimes.
