Duckworth fires staffer posing as lawyer in bid to release illegal immigrant

Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth has fired a staffer who allegedly posed as a lawyer in an attempt to release an illegal immigrant from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.

On Monday, Duckworth sent a letter to ICE acting Director Todd Lyons, informing him of the firing, after he sent a letter to her last week about her staffer, Edward York, according to Fox News. 

York told federal agents he was the attorney of Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval, who is a 40-year-old illegal immigrant previously deported four times to Mexico and had a DUI conviction, Lyons said.

According to Lyons' letter, York entered an ICE facility in St. Louis, Illinois, 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 reads.

"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."

York met with Ayuzo at the facility and got him to sign a G-28 form, the letter said. The form allows a lawyer to represent a client on immigration issues, empowering them to receive official correspondence and communicate with government agencies on their behalf.

"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," Lyons wrote. "It appears as if Mr. York may have collaborated with the firm to cover his misrepresentation." 

ICE said it could not verify that York was a lawyer.

Lyons requested Duckworth’s office respond by Monday, demanding answers regarding York’s employment, whether he knowingly lied on government documents, and if he acted with the knowledge of other members of Duckworth’s staff.

Duckworth on Monday informed Lyons that, “Upon reviewing the matter, I can confirm that neither I nor my leadership was aware of, authorized or directed what your letter describes as the employee's conduct,” and that the employee had been terminated, effective Monday.