A staffer for Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) allegedly pretended to be a lawyer in order to enter an ICE detention center and hand cell phones to detainees, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Thursday.
Benito Torres “repeatedly falsely claimed to be an attorney representing detainees — even signing federal paperwork attesting that he was legal counsel for specific individuals” at the Camp East Montana facility at Fort Bliss in El Paso, DHS claimed. Torres “misrepresented himself at least 11 times,” according to DHS, citing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records.
The detention facility’s administrator then “discovered that Torres was passing a phone to multiple detainees and spoke to him,” DHS said, adding that “at that time, Torres admitted he was not an attorney and was visiting as a private citizen.”
DHS shared an image of a visitor log that showed Torres identifying himself as a “lawyer” entering the facility to meet with a “client.” He last visited the facility on Jan. 30, Fox News reported.
“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,” DHS said.
.@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.
The facility administrator discovered that Torres was passing a phone to… https://t.co/MlA0C6jXBq pic.twitter.com/73F0eisici
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 19, 2026
Escobar responded to the accusations against her one of her caseworkers, who she described as “a dedicated public servant, Army veteran, and experienced member of my team.”
“I have every reason to believe these allegations are unfounded,” she wrote in an X post Thursday.
“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.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,” Escobar wrote.
The Democratic lawmaker said she stands “proudly by the members of my team who have demonstrated nothing but dedication and integrity to serving our nation and our community.”
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons sent a letter to Escobar Thursday asking her what she knew about her staffer’s alleged lies, according to Fox News.
“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,” he added.
Escobar has repeatedly called for the ICE facility’s closure following several detainee deaths and disease outbreaks.
“Camp East Montana – the $1.24 billion migrant detention facility in El Paso – has been disastrous and inhumane. DHS’s plan to warehouse human beings here is even worse,” Escobar wrote on X Monday.
“I’m proud of our local coordinated effort to prevent it. We won’t stop until this horrific idea is rejected,” she wrote.
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