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

A congressional staffer for Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, is under scrutiny after federal officials accused him of repeatedly posing as an attorney to gain unauthorized access to detainees at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas—raising fresh concerns about oversight, security, and potential abuse within the system.

According to a letter from Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Benito Torres, identified as a senior caseworker in Escobar’s office, allegedly misrepresented himself as legal counsel on multiple occasions at the Camp East Montana detention facility located at Fort Bliss in El Paso. The incidents reportedly occurred at least 11 times.

“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.

Federal officials say the misconduct goes beyond simple misrepresentation. Torres is accused of bringing a cellphone into the secure detention facility—an explicit violation of ICE policy—and using it during his visits. As a result, Lyons confirmed that Torres has been permanently barred from entering any ICE facility.

“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 hereby prohibited from accessing any ICE facility,” Lyons wrote.

ICE records indicate the alleged pattern of behavior dates back to September 2025, with the most recent incident occurring on January 30. During that visit, officials confronted Torres, who reportedly admitted he was not an attorney and claimed he was visiting in a private capacity. The confrontation followed reports that a cellphone had been circulated among detainees inside the facility.

Lyons has formally requested answers from Escobar’s office, including whether Torres was employed by her at the time of the incidents, whether he holds a law license, and whether the congresswoman had any knowledge of his alleged actions.

Escobar, however, forcefully pushed back on the allegations, defending Torres as “a dedicated public servant” and Army veteran, while dismissing the claims as politically motivated.

“It is worth noting that ICE has refused to respond to multiple letters I’ve sent about Camp East Montana regarding deaths, including a homicide; outbreaks of diseases including COVID-19, measles, and tuberculosis; waste, fraud, and abuse; a lack of legal representation or medical care; and so much more,” Escobar said.

“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,” she added.

Doubling down on her support, Escobar stated: “I stand proudly by the members of my team who have demonstrated nothing but dedication and integrity to serving our nation and our community.”

The controversy comes as immigration enforcement remains a central priority under President Donald J. Trump’s second term, with his administration emphasizing stricter border security, law enforcement integrity, and zero tolerance for violations within federal facilities.

Escobar has long been a vocal critic of conditions at Camp East Montana, previously calling the facility “disastrous and inhumane” and advocating for its closure—a stance that has placed her at odds with federal immigration authorities.

Notably, this is not an isolated incident on Capitol Hill. In November, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., terminated a staffer who similarly impersonated an attorney representing a detainee in an attempt to secure the individual’s release—highlighting a troubling pattern of misconduct among congressional aides interacting with immigration systems.

As the investigation unfolds, the case raises serious questions about accountability, abuse of access, and whether political agendas are undermining the rule of law inside America’s immigration enforcement infrastructure.