In a disheartening revelation during a recent court hearing, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attorney expressed her intense dissatisfaction with her job, claiming it 'sucks.' This moment of frustration came as Julie Le was called to explain why the government has been failing to respond to judicial orders concerning individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Le, who has been detailed to the U.S. Attorney's office, made her feelings clear in a courtroom in St. Paul, Minnesota. She candidly stated, "What do you want me to do? The system sucks," referring to the legal framework within which she operates. She added, "This job sucks. And I am trying [with] every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Her words encapsulated the mounting frustrations faced by those working on immigration cases.
Court records reveal that Le has been assigned to an astonishing 91 immigration cases just in the past month—88 of these in Minnesota and three in Texas. The majority involve habeas petitions from immigrants who are currently detained.
Judge Jerry Blackwell addressed the ongoing issue, noting that the administration has consistently failed to comply with court mandates. This non-compliance has led to individuals being held in detention for extended periods, sometimes days or even weeks longer than legally permissible. Judge Blackwell emphasized, "The overwhelming majority of the hundreds [of individuals] seen by this court have been found to be lawfully present as of now in the country." He pointed out that in certain instances, the government is holding individuals whom the Constitution does not allow them to detain, indicating that these people should not have been arrested in the first place.
The judge acknowledged the challenges posed by Operation Metro Surge, which has led to an influx of arrests and detentions, putting immense pressure on existing systems and coordination between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS. However, he firmly stated that this surge cannot justify the government's failure to adhere to constitutional rights. "The volume of cases and matters is not a justification for diluting constitutional rights and it never can be," he declared.
Le's situation was further complicated when Judge Blackwell inquired if the previous Trump administration should be held in contempt for its disregard of court orders. In a moment of vulnerability, Le remarked, "I am here as a bridge and a liaison between the one that [is] in jail, because if I walk out -- sometimes I wish you would just hold me in contempt, Your Honor, so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep. I work day and night just because people are still in there."
Adding to her frustrations, Le disclosed that she had already tendered her resignation from DHS due to the overwhelming workload, but was told that no replacement could be found. "So I gave them a specific time ... to get it done. If they don't, then by all means, I'm going to walk out," she explained.
An official later confirmed to ABC News that Le is no longer detailed to the U.S. attorney's office. When approached for comments, Le did not respond immediately.
In response to the incident, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized Le’s conduct, stating it was unprofessional and unbecoming of an ICE attorney, emphasizing the need for commitment and dedication to the responsibilities of the role.
During the court session, Le described the process of eliciting responses from ICE regarding judicial orders as akin to "pulling teeth." She admitted that she had naively volunteered for this assignment because the DHS was overwhelmed and needed assistance, despite only having been in the role for a month. She candidly confessed, "When I started with the job, I have to be honest, we have no guidance on what we need to do."
When Judge Blackwell probed about the lack of training she received, Le responded affirmatively, confirming she had not received proper orientation or instructions on her responsibilities.
Additionally, concerns arose surrounding ICE detainees who were ordered to be released but were already transferred to facilities in places like El Paso or New Mexico. Judge Blackwell highlighted issues where individuals unlawfully detained were mandated to wear ankle monitors as a condition of release—something the court had not ordered, given their unlawful status. Le agreed with the judge's concerns, stating, "I share the same concern with you, your honor... I took that concern to heart."
She expressed her feelings about the daunting task at hand, saying, "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."
Opening the hearing with a strong reminder, Judge Blackwell stressed that "a court order is not advisory, and it is not conditional," making it clear that compliance is mandatory. He asserted that unlawful detention is not merely a technical issue; it poses a fundamental constitutional injury to individuals who have committed no wrongdoing. He reiterated, "The DOJ, the DHS, and ICE are not above the law... When court orders are not followed, it's not just the court's authority that's at issue. It is the rights of individuals in custody and the integrity of the constitutional system itself."
As the hearing concluded, Judge Blackwell stated he would take all the information presented under advisement, leaving open the questions of accountability and reform within the immigration system.
