A staffer for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is in hot water for allegedly playing dress-up as a lawyer to spring an illegal immigrant from ICE custody.
Breitbart reported that Edward York, a Constituent Outreach Coordinator in Duckworth’s office, is said to have misrepresented himself at an ICE facility in St. Louis, Illinois, on Oct. 29, 2025, to secure the release of detainee Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval.
According to ICE, York strutted into the facility, claimed to be Ayuzo’s attorney, and demanded a chat with his supposed “client.” York didn’t stop at a mere verbal fib—he allegedly falsified a Department of Homeland Security form to bolster his charade.
During the encounter, York met with Ayuzo, a 40-year-old man previously deported from the U.S. four times and convicted of DUI, and got him to sign a G-28 form, a document meant for attorneys representing clients in immigration matters.
Yet, in a twist that could make even a seasoned bureaucrat blink, York attempted to submit a release order without Ayuzo’s signature on that very form.
Four days after the incident, a law firm in Collinsville, Illinois, called Suarez Law Office, electronically filed a G-28 form lacking Ayuzo’s signature, despite York having obtained a signed version.
York claimed to be affiliated with this firm, prompting ICE to wonder if there was a coordinated effort to paper over his misrepresentation. ICE, unable to confirm if York is even a licensed attorney, has raised serious concerns about the integrity of this whole affair.
Adding fuel to the fire, a Facebook post from the Montgomery County Illinois Democrats’ page hinted at a staffer showing up with documents and a release order, allegedly deceiving law enforcement.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons isn’t mincing words, stating, “This staff member allegedly did so to gain access to the detainee and seek his release from custody, and he accomplished it by falsifying an official Department of Homeland Security (DHS) form.”
That’s a bold accusation, and it cuts to the heart of why trust in government processes matters—when staffers play fast and loose with the rules, it’s not just a game; it risks undermining law enforcement’s mission to protect communities.
Lyons also noted, “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.”
Let’s unpack that—Lyons is essentially pleading for sanity in a system often bogged down by ideological stunts, and he’s right to call out actions that could jeopardize both public safety and the very individuals caught in the immigration crosshairs.