Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Monday she had dismissed a staff member who posed as an immigration lawyer in an attempt to secure the release of an illegal immigrant from federal custody, as reported by The New York Post.

Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, informed acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons in a letter obtained by Fox News that “neither I, nor my leadership was aware of, authorized, or directed” the actions of Edward York, who served as a constituent outreach coordinator in her office.

“My office has terminated the employment of said employee, effective November 17, 2025,” Duckworth wrote.

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The Department of Homeland Security reported that York posed as a legal representative to meet with 40-year-old Jose Ismeal Ayuzo Sandoval at an ICE office in St. Louis on Oct. 29. Records cited in the DHS account describe Ayuzo as an illegal immigrant with a DUI conviction who had previously been deported four times to Mexico.

According to Lyons, York gained access to Ayuzo by presenting himself as an immigration lawyer. During that meeting, York obtained Ayuzo’s signature on a G-28 form, a document used to designate an attorney or accredited representative for immigration proceedings.

Lyons outlined the sequence of events in a Nov. 12 letter to Duckworth. He noted that on Nov. 2, four days after York’s visit, “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 had given Duckworth until Monday to update ICE on York’s employment status and to clarify whether York knowingly falsified information on official documents or acted with the involvement of others on the senator’s staff.

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York’s communications with ICE and the details surrounding the filings prompted the agency to request clarification from Duckworth’s office about any role other staff members may have played.

Duckworth, 57, has represented Illinois in the Senate since 2017, following four years in the House of Representatives. Her response to ICE stated that the actions described were not sanctioned by her office and confirmed York’s termination effective immediately on Nov. 17.

ICE has not released additional details regarding the status of Ayuzo’s immigration case following the incident. The agency has also not indicated whether any further investigation into the false legal filings will extend beyond York’s actions.

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