U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth has taken swift action by firing an aide who federal officials accused of posing as a lawyer to gain access to an immigration detainee in St. Louis. In a letter addressed to ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, Duckworth stated that she had terminated the employment of the employee in question, effective November 17, 2025.
Although Duckworth did not disclose the aide’s identity in her letter, Lyons had previously informed the senator that Edward York, her Constituent Outreach Coordinator, had allegedly falsified an official DHS form to enter an ICE facility and meet with detainee Jose Ayuzo Sandoval. Ayuzo, a 40-year-old Mexican national with multiple deportations and a DUI conviction, was the focus of York’s unauthorized visit.
According to Lyons, York entered the ICE facility in St. Louis under the guise of being Ayuzo’s attorney, demanding to meet with his “client.” York proceeded to meet with Ayuzo and obtained his signature on a Form G-28, which authorizes legal representation in immigration proceedings.
Duckworth responded to the allegations by stating that neither she nor her leadership team were aware of, authorized, or directed the employee’s actions as described in Lyons’ letter. The controversy gained public attention after the Department of Homeland Security released a video allegedly showing York inside the ICE facility.
Lyons further disclosed that York had falsified an official DHS form in an attempt to secure Ayuzo’s release. Subsequently, a law firm from Collinsville, Illinois electronically filed a G-28 form without Ayuzo’s signature, despite York already obtaining a signed copy. This led Lyons to suggest that York may have collaborated with the firm to conceal his misrepresentation.
ICE officials confirmed that there was no record of York being a licensed attorney, citing a Facebook post from the Montgomery County Democrats that alluded to a staffer misrepresenting himself to law enforcement officers during a visit to an ICE field office. A search in the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission’s database for licensed Illinois attorneys yielded no results for the name “Edward York.”
The incident has raised concerns about the unauthorized access to immigration detainees and the potential misuse of official forms. Senator Duckworth’s swift response in terminating the aide demonstrates a commitment to upholding ethical standards and ensuring accountability within her staff.
