WASHINGTON (AP) — Julie Le, a government attorney who openly stated that her job 'sucks' during a court hearing regarding immigration enforcement, has been removed from her position at the Justice Department. The U.S. attorney in Minnesota terminated her assignment following her comments made in St. Paul on Tuesday. Le had previously been working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before her detail to the Justice Department.
During the proceedings, Le expressed her exhaustion, telling U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell that she wished he could hold her in contempt so she could finally get some sleep. 'What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks. And I'm trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need,' Le remarked, according to court transcripts.
Le's comments reveal the immense pressure currently placed on the federal court system since the Trump administration's promise to ramp up immigration enforcement to unprecedented levels. This surge has resulted in what ICE officials describe as the largest immigration operation in Minnesota's history, with the agency ramping up actions beginning in January.
Frustration has spread among several prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota, resulting in departures amid concerns over the federal government's response to immigration enforcement and incidents involving federal agents. Reports indicate Le was assigned a staggering 88 cases in under a month, highlighting the overwhelming workload created by current policies.
Judge Blackwell addressed the issues faced, indicating that the sheer number of cases is not an acceptable excuse for failing to adhere to court orders. He highlighted that individuals arrested during immigration operations are often detained longer than necessary due to non-compliance. Le further lamented that the system was 'broken' and admitted to feeling unprepared for her role, labeling her decision to volunteer for the detail 'stupid'.
In discussion of the broader implications, concerns were voiced by attorneys who attended the hearing, pointing to the necessity for change in a system that often leads to detainment without lawful justification, compounded by an apparent lack of effective solutions being implemented by ICE.
