ICE bars staffer for Democratic representative from visiting detainees

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday that it has banned a staffer from the office of Rep. Veronica Escobar from entering any of its detention facilities, saying the man lied and broke the rules by letting detainees use his phone.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Benito Torres falsely claimed to be a lawyer at least 11 times in order to gain access to detention facilities.

The visits took place between Sept. 26 and Jan. 30, which is when officials at Camp East Montana saw him passing a phone to multiple detainees. Personal phones are prohibited and detainees are not supposed to access them.

When confronted, he admitted he was not a lawyer and claimed he was actually making an official visit as a staffer, and arranged the visit through ICE. Mr. Lyons said that story didn’t check out.

“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,” Mr. Lyons wrote.

He said the incident could spark a “federal investigation.”

Ms. Escobar, on social media, sided with Mr. Torres, who she said was an Army veteran and experienced staffer.

“I have every reason to believe these allegations are unfounded,” the Texas Democrat said.

She also said she’s been investigating Camp East Montana over poor treatment of detainees.

“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 said.

Mr. Lyons said it was only after the Jan. 30 confrontation that ICE went back and spotted the 10 previous times Mr. Torres had visited and “misrepresented himself.”

Mr. Lyons, in a letter to Ms. Escobar demanded to know whether Mr. Torres was acting under her orders.

ICE has been battling congressional Democrats over access to the agency’s facilities.

Under the law, it must give lawmakers instant access when they arrive for inspections, and it is supposed to give staffers access as long as they give 24 hours’ notice.

ICE has tried to adopt restrictive policies requiring more lead time. A federal judge has repeatedly blocked those policies, saying they conflict with the law.