Staffer For Dem Lawmaker Posed As Attorney To Access ICE Detainees: Report

 In March 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accused a senior staffer for Representative Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) of repeatedly posing as an attorney to gain unauthorized access to an immigrant detention facility in El Paso. The staffer, Benito Torres, has been barred from all ICE facilities following these allegations.

Key Allegations

According to a letter from acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Torres misrepresented himself as legal counsel at least 11 times between September 2025 and January 2026 at the Camp East Montana facility.

Specific accusations include:

• Misrepresentation: Signing official sign-in logs as a "lawyer" visiting a "client" and completing government forms stating he was an "attorney or accredited representative".
• Contraband Smuggling: Allegedly sneaking cell phones into the facility and passing them to multiple detainees, which violates federal security protocols.
• Admission: During his most recent visit on January 30, 2026, Torres allegedly admitted to a facility administrator that he was not an attorney and was visiting as a private citizen after being observed with a phone.

Responses to the Investigation

Representative Escobar has defended Torres, a decorated Army veteran, calling the allegations "unfounded" and a "political tactic". She accused the Trump administration of using intimidation to prevent members of Congress from conducting lawful oversight of what she describes as "inhumane" conditions at the facility, including reports of disease outbreaks and deaths.

ICE leadership has requested written responses from Escobar regarding whether she was aware of Torres's actions or if she condones such behavior.

Broader Context of Oversight Tensions

This incident follows a similar case in November 2025, where Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) fired a staffer, Edward York, for allegedly posing as an immigration lawyer to facilitate the release of a detainee.

The dispute comes amidst heightened tensions between Democratic lawmakers and federal immigration authorities in 2026:

• Access Denied: Several Maryland Democrats were previously barred from an ICE building in Baltimore while attempting an oversight visit.
• Legal Battles: Federal judges have recently intervened in similar disputes, temporarily lifting DHS restrictions on lawmaker visits to certain detention facilities.