Justice Department Lawyer Removed After Critique of Immigration System

Thu Feb 05 2026 01:25:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Julie Le, a government lawyer, faced removal from her position after openly criticizing the immigration enforcement process in a court hearing, highlighting the strain on the system amid increased enforcement actions.

Julie Le, a Justice Department lawyer assigned to immigration cases in Minnesota, was removed from her post after expressing frustrations about the immigration enforcement system during a court hearing. Her comments reflect the intense pressure that federal courts are experiencing due to the heightened immigration operations under the Trump administration. Judge Jerry Blackwell criticized her for non-compliance with court orders, suggesting that the volume of cases is partly a result of the Justice Department's handling of the situation. Le admitted feeling untrained for her role and that her comments were made in a moment of stress.

WASHINGTON (PulseWire) — A government lawyer, Julie Le, was removed from her position at the Justice Department following remarks she made during a court hearing that her job sucks. This situation stems from increasing immigration enforcement actions implemented by the Trump administration, particularly in Minnesota.

Le was involved with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prior to her temporary assignment at the Justice Department. Her candid comments were made during a court hearing where she expressed a desire for the judge to hold her in contempt just so she could rest. During the exchange with U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell, she lamented the difficulties her position entails, stating, What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks. Her sentiments highlighted the significant stress on the federal judicial system, especially since President Trump's return to office, leading to what has been described as the largest ICE operation in Minnesota.

Le’s remarks were part of a broader concern about rising immigration case loads. Judge Blackwell noted that the systemic failure isn't just due to increased case volume, but also the Justice Department's repeated failures to comply with court releases for arrested individuals—a situation that has been exacerbated by Le’s handling of at least 88 cases in less than a month.

Blackwell conveyed his discontent with the DOJ's handling of the situation, reminding Le that her struggles in managing the cases do not excuse failures in meeting court orders. Le’s expressed frustration about being untrained for her assigned responsibilities reflects a deeper issue regarding the adequacy of resources and support in the current immigration climate. She even remarked on the impossibility of fixing what she described as a broken system.

Legal experts, including attorney Kira Kelley, assert that the surge in immigration cases is critical, as many individuals are being held without adequate legal justification. Without new methodologies or effective directives to ICE, they warn that these systemic problems are unlikely to improve anytime soon.