Democrat Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16) is coming under fire after Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons banned one of her senior caseworkers from all ICE facilities for allegedly posing as a licensed attorney at least 11 times to gain unauthorized access to detainees at a facility in El Paso, Texas.
The staffer, identified as Benito Torres, also stands accused of smuggling cell phones inside the detention center in clear violation of security protocols.
In a letter to the congresswoman, Lyons demanded answers on whether she knew about or authorized Torres' actions, if she condones such behavior, and what steps she will take to hold him accountable.
"The available evidence demonstrates your staffer, a senior caseworker named Benito Torres, misrepresented himself as counsel for detainees in ICE custody, violated clear detention standards and security protocols prohibiting the use of cellphones inside ICE facilities, improperly met with multiple detainees, and falsely claimed to ICE personnel such use had been approved by the agency," Lyons wrote.
"As a result of bringing a cell phone into the Camp East Montana facility, contrary to facility visitation policy, Mr. Torres’ misrepresentation that he is a licensed attorney to gain access to detainees, his improper meetings with groups of detainees, and his assertions to ICE personnel about the origins of his visit, Mr. Torres is herby [sic] prohibited from accessing any ICE facility."
UNDER FIRE: Rep. Veronica Escobar's staffer posed as a lawyer at least 11 times to smuggle phones into an ICE facility in El Paso, according to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. Benito Torres is now banned from all ICE facilities. https://t.co/Sfls2JbBap
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 19, 2026
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Escobar is denying that her staffer did anything wrong, calling Torres "a dedicated public servant."
Dedicated to whom, Ms. Escobar? It sounds like he's dedicated to serving illegal immigrants, not the public.
"This administration has a history of engaging in intimidation tactics against Members of Congress as well as continuously attempting to obstruct our ability to provide oversight," the congresswoman said in a statement to Fox News.
Of course, none of that addresses the accusations against her top aide.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on X published images of a logbook showing Torres signing in to the facility to visit a "client" under the guise of being their "lawyer." They allege that he went so far as to sign federal paperwork attesting that he was legal counsel for specific clients.
Additionally, they report, "The facility administrator discovered that Torres was passing a phone to multiple detainees and spoke to him; at that time, Torres admitted he was not an attorney and was visiting as a private citizen."
"After the fraudulent visit, officials reviewed past visitor logs and discovered Torres had repeatedly represented himself as a lawyer or said he was visiting for legal reasons."
.@RepEscobar’s staffer, Benito Torres, repeatedly falsely claimed to be an attorney representing detainees — even signing federal paperwork attesting that he was legal counsel for specific individuals.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 19, 2026
The facility administrator discovered that Torres was passing a phone to… https://t.co/MlA0C6jXBq pic.twitter.com/73F0eisici
False statements or misrepresentations to the government are typically frowned upon, to say the least.
"I stand proudly by the members of my team who have demonstrated nothing but dedication and integrity to serving our nation and our community," a defiant Torres told Fox.
Torres, though, isn't the first Democrat lawmaker accused of fraudulently posing as a lawyer for illegal aliens.
In November, a staffer for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) also misrepresented himself as a lawyer for a detained illegal immigrant in an attempt to facilitate their release.
Duckworth, to her credit, at least fired that staffer, Edward York. It seems like Escobar is prepared to dig in her heels in defense of the faux lawyer.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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