A staff member from Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office allegedly signs official documents while falsely claiming to be the attorney representing an illegal immigrant (Credit: ICE)

A staffer for Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth was caught posing as a lawyer to help free an illegal immigrant from ICE custody in East St. Louis, Illinois.

The Department of Homeland Security is demanding answers after Duckworth’s staffer, Edward York, misrepresented himself to federal agents as legal counsel for Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval, a four-time deported illegal alien with a prior DUI conviction.

According to a letter from the DHS, York entered the ICE facility on October 29 by falsifying a DHS form.

York met with Ayuzo Sandoval and got him to sign a G-28 form, which allowed him to represent the illegal alien as a client.

York also tried to submit the G-28 form without Sandoval’s signature, Fox News reported.

“Four days later, a Suarez Law Office in Collinsville, Illinois, filed a G-28 electronically that did not have Mr. Ayuzo’s signature, even though Mr. York, who claimed to work for the law firm, had already obtained a signed form,” the letter said, according to Fox News.

The DHS believes York was actually collaborating with the law firm.

“It appears as if Mr. York may have collaborated with the firm to cover his misrepresentation,” the letter stated.

BREAKING: A staff member for Senator Tammy Duckworth (D) reportedly posed as a lawyer and falsified a Homeland Security form in order to secure the release of a criminal illegal alien.

Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval, an illegal alien who has been deported FOUR TIMES, also has a… pic.twitter.com/OESzFRRRXF

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 12, 2025

Fox News reported:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a member of Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s office, D-Ill., misrepresented himself as the attorney of a detained illegal immigrant to facilitate their release.

According to a letter sent Wednesday to Duckworth, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons said the staffer told federal agents he was the attorney of Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval — a 40-year-old illegal immigrant previously deported four times to Mexico and who had a DUI conviction.

The letter says the staffer entered an ICE facility in St. Louis, Ill., on Oct. 29.

“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 states.

“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.”

While at the facility, York successfully met with Ayuzo and got him to sign a G-28 form, the letter said. It allows an attorney to represent a client on immigration matters, empowering them to receive official correspondence, communicate with government agencies on their behalf and more.