Prairie State Wire

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has not responded publicly to allegations from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that a member of her staff impersonated an attorney and falsified federal documents to help secure the release of a repeatedly deported immigrant from custody.

According to a Nov. 12 letter from ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, Duckworth’s Constituent Outreach Coordinator Edward York allegedly represented himself as an attorney for a 40-year-old detainee with four prior deportations and a DUI conviction.

"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 said in a letter sent to Duckworth’s office, Fox News reported.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has not commented on ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons’ claim that a staffer in her Illinois office posed as an attorney and used falsified documents to try to free an illegal immigrant. | Senator Tammy Duckworth Official Website (https://www.duckworth.senate.gov)

"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." 

According to Lyons' letter, York entered an ICE facility in East St. Louis on Oct. 29 and told officers he represented the detainee, had a meeting with him, and secured the man’s signature on a Form G-28, the document used to designate legal representation in immigration proceedings.

Lyons wrote that York later attempted to submit the form without the detainee’s signature, despite having already met with him in person. 

Four days after the incident, an outside law firm, Suarez Law Office in Collinsville, electronically filed another unsigned G-28 listing York as affiliated with the firm, a sequence of events that led investigators to suspect possible coordination, according to the letter. 

ICE stated it could not verify that York was an attorney and that evidence pointed to deliberate misrepresentation intended to prompt the detainee’s release.

The Department of Homeland Security publicized the allegations in a statement on X. 

“This @SenDuckworth staff member allegedly claimed to be the lawyer of a 40-year-old illegal immigrant who had been deported to Mexico 4 times and had a DUI conviction, in order to seek his release from custody. He accomplished this by falsifying an official Department of Homeland Security form,” the Department of Homeland Security said on X. 

“We look forward to a response from Senator Duckworth.”

Thus far, Duckworth’s office has not issued any public comment, nor confirmed whether York has been placed on leave or referred for internal review. 

Additionally, Duckworth's office did not respond to Prairie State Wire's request for comment.

Lyons has asked the senator to respond by Nov. 17 with information about York’s employment status, whether he knowingly falsified government documents, and whether any other staff members were aware of his actions. 

If substantiated, the alleged conduct could carry steep criminal consequences. 

Falsifying or using a fraudulent DHS form can violate 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a), a felony punishable by fines and up to ten years in prison. Misrepresenting oneself to federal officers or making false statements may fall under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which carries penalties of up to five years. Additional exposure may arise from conduct such as impersonating an attorney, obstructing federal proceedings, aiding an attempted escape from custody, conspiracy or unauthorized legal practice.

DHS and ICE have not announced whether York is under formal investigation.