A senior caseworker for Representative Veronica Escobar allegedly engaged in a pattern of deception to gain access to detainees held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Benito Torres, the staffer in question, is accused of repeatedly misrepresenting himself as an attorney – at least eleven times – in order to meet with individuals within the Camp East Montana facility at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons detailed the allegations in a letter to Representative Escobar, outlining a series of violations. Torres allegedly not only falsely claimed legal representation but also violated security protocols by attempting to introduce cell phones into the detention center, a clear breach of facility rules.
Evidence, including a sign-in log, reportedly shows Torres identifying himself as “lawyer” visiting a “client.” The incidents began as early as September 2025 and continued until a confrontation on January 30th, where Torres admitted he was not an attorney during a visit prompted by reports of cell phone distribution among detainees.
The consequences were swift. Lyons has formally prohibited Torres from accessing any ICE facility. The letter also requests a written response from Representative Escobar, seeking clarification on Torres’ employment status, legal credentials, and whether she was aware of his alleged actions.
Lyons’ inquiry extends to whether Escobar condones such behavior and what steps she intends to take to hold Torres accountable. The situation raises serious questions about access to detainees and the integrity of the process.
Representative Escobar has been a vocal critic of the Camp East Montana facility, previously describing it as “disastrous and inhumane” and calling for its closure. She has consistently highlighted what she perceives as substandard conditions within the facility.
This incident isn’t isolated. A similar situation unfolded in November when Senator Tammy Duckworth dismissed a staffer, Edward York, after he falsely claimed to be an attorney representing an individual with a history of deportation and a DUI conviction, in an attempt to secure his release.
These cases underscore the lengths to which some congressional staffers have gone to access ICE facilities and interact with detainees, raising concerns about potential overreach and the circumvention of established protocols.
