DHS releases new evidence against Rep. Escobar’s staffer over alleged ICE lies
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released additional evidence that it says confirms that a staffer for Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas lied about being an attorney for detainees at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility for the purpose of meeting with them and smuggling cell phones.
In March, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons informed Escobar in a letter about Benito Torres, a case manager on the congresswoman’s staff, who Lyons said had lied about being an attorney for detainees held by ICE at Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss in El Paso.
Lyons asked Escobar to answer several questions about Torres’ alleged actions.
“Representative Escobar refused to answer honestly. Instead, she called on X to defend Torres and enlighten the public,” DHS said Thursday.
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A staffer for Rep. Veronica Escobar, Democrat of Texas, allegedly pretended to be a lawyer to gain access to an immigration detention center and tried to smuggle a phone inside, officials said. (Getty Images)
Initially, DHS released a login log image showing Torres claiming to be an “attorney” visiting a “client.” ICE records show he first misrepresented himself as a legal professional in September 2025, Lyons said.
A Feb. 18 memo states that during a Jan. 23 visit to the center, Torres falsely claimed to be an attorney while requesting to see 22 detainees. It was determined that he was not a legal professional, the memo said.
The most recent incident reportedly occurred on January 30.
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The Department of Homeland Security said it has more evidence that a staffer for Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas falsely claimed to be an attorney to gain entry to an ICE site. (Department of Homeland Security)
“Torres lied that he was a lawyer in order to gain access to an ICE detention center,” a DHS statement said. “He made false statements repeatedly over the course of several months, speaking directly to inmates even though he was NOT their legal advisor. He even passed a phone to several inmates during a visit in January 2026, a dangerous violation of security protocols.
“Actions like those of Mr. Torres seek to undermine ICE’s statutory mission to enforce immigration laws and remove illegal aliens from within.”
Fox News Digital contacted DHS and Escobar’s office.
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A newspaper bearing the name of Benito Torres in which he claimed to be a “lawyer” visiting a “client.” (Department of Homeland Security)
At the time of the initial DHS allegations, Escobar described Torres as “a dedicated public servant” and an “army veteran,” saying the accusations against him were “unfounded.”
She also criticized the establishment and accused the Trump administration of retaliatory tactics.
“It should be noted that ICE has refused to respond to multiple letters I have sent regarding Camp East Montana regarding deaths, including a homicide;
“This administration has a history of engaging in intimidation tactics against members of Congress and continually attempting to hinder our ability to provide oversight.
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Camp East Montana on March 6, 2026, in El Paso, Texas. (Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times/USA Today Network)
“I am proud of my team members who have demonstrated nothing but dedication and integrity in service to our nation and community,” Escobar added.
The congresswoman has already called for the Camp East Montana center to be closed, calling it “disastrous and inhumane.”
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“The United States already has the largest immigrant detention network in the world, and these additional facilities only serve as tools for the administration’s inhumanity,” she wrote in an article on X in March.
Torres was banned from ICE sites.
