Politics
JUST IN: Senator Embroiled In Scandal After Link To Fraudulent Release Of Illegal Migrant Is Revealed
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that a staffer for Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) misrepresented himself as the attorney of an illegal alien as part of a bogus attempt to secure his release.
According to a letter sent by the agency to Duckworth’s office on Wednesday, 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 alien who was deported to Mexico four times due to a DUI conviction.
The letter states that the staffer entered an ICE facility in the community of St. Louis, Illinois on October 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 met with Sandoval and got him to sign a G-28 form, according to a report from Fox News. This 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.
After obtaining a release notice, the staffer then attempted to submit the form without Sandoval’s signature, even after he had completed the G-28 form in person, according to the letter.
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 goes on.
“It appears as if Mr. York may have collaborated with the firm to cover his misrepresentation.” ICE further stated that it could not verify whether York was an attorney.
Duckworth has served in the U.S. Senate since 2017
USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
The agency became suspicious of the process when they discovered a Facebook post describing the sequence of events. The post, which was made by the Montgomery County Illinois Democrats’ page, described that a staffer had gone to a field office with a packet of documents and a release order with the intention of misrepresenting himself to law enforcement, the letter notes.
Lyons’ letter asked for a response from Duckworth’s office no later than November 17. It demanded details regarding York’s employment, whether he knowingly lied on government documents, and whether he acted with the knowledge of other members of Duckworth’s staff.
“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,” Lyons wrote.
“It is my sincere hope that you will advocate on behalf of your constituents who have been victimized by illegal alien crime and work with DHS to remove these criminals from the United States.”
