BREAKING: A government lawyer in Minnesota has been removed from her post after an explosive remark during a court hearing, stating, “this job sucks.” The incident, which occurred on January 23, 2023, highlights growing frustrations within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid an unprecedented immigration enforcement surge.
Julie Le, who was temporarily assigned to the Justice Department, made the candid comment during a hearing presided over by U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell in St. Paul, Minnesota. Le had been tasked with managing at least 88 immigration cases in less than a month, a workload she described as overwhelming.
During the hearing, Le expressed her exhaustion, telling the judge, “What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks. And I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need.” Her statements have drawn significant attention as they underscore the pressures faced by federal attorneys amid a controversial immigration policy rollout by the Trump administration.
Judge Blackwell responded to Le’s comments by emphasizing that the volume of cases does not excuse failing to comply with court orders. He expressed concern about detainees being held for days despite judicial orders for their release, saying, “Some of it is of your own making by not complying with orders.”
Le’s frustration appears to stem from her rapid assignment to Minnesota, where ICE has been conducting its largest operation yet since early January. Several prosecutors have left the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota, citing dissatisfaction with the handling of the immigration enforcement increase and the Justice Department’s response to recent fatal shootings involving federal agents.
Le told the court that she was “stupid” to volunteer for this detail, revealing a lack of proper training for the assignment. She lamented, “Fixing a system, a broken system, I don’t have a magic button to do it. I don’t have the power or the voice to do it.”
The implications of her dismissal are significant. The Justice Department’s decision to terminate Le’s assignment highlights increasing scrutiny and pressure on government lawyers involved in immigration cases. Hers is not an isolated case; as the number of immigration petitions rises, so does the urgency for reforms within the system.
Kira Kelley, an attorney representing petitioners at the hearing, emphasized the necessity of addressing the flood of immigration cases, stating, “So many people are being detained without any semblance of a lawful basis.” She criticized the government’s lack of effective solutions, noting the growing chaos surrounding immigration enforcement.
As this story develops, all eyes will be on how federal agencies respond to the ongoing challenges in immigration policy enforcement and whether further changes will be implemented to alleviate the strain on judicial and legal resources.
Stay tuned for updates on this urgent situation as it unfolds.
