Homeland Security Attorney Removed After Emotional Courtroom Outburst in Minnesota
A lawyer working for the Department of Homeland Security has been removed from her detail with the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota following an emotional courtroom breakdown where she told a federal judge "this job sucks" and "the system sucks." The incident occurred during a hearing addressing Immigration and Customs Enforcement's repeated failures to comply with court orders.
Mounting Frustrations Spill Into Public View
Julie Le, listed as an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security, was assigned to Minnesota to support the Department of Justice in immigration cases following a wave of lawsuits that emerged after mass arrests under Donald Trump's sweeping deportation efforts in the state. According to sources familiar with the matter, that detail is now "over" following her public expressions of frustration.
The episode reveals mounting tensions among government attorneys that rarely surface publicly but are increasingly spilling into courtrooms. Judges across the country are issuing warning signs about the Trump administration's legal approach to immigration enforcement, with this Minnesota case highlighting systemic pressures.
Courtroom Breakdown During Contempt Hearing
District Judge Jerry R. Blackwell had summoned government attorneys to his courtroom to explain why ICE had failed to comply with several court orders requiring the swift release of wrongly detained immigrants whose cases appeared on his docket. The judge sought to understand why he shouldn't hold officials in contempt for what he described as "alarming" failures.
Instead of receiving explanations about compliance, Judge Blackwell heard from a lawyer at her breaking point. "I wish you would just hold me in contempt of court so I can get 24 hours of sleep," Le reportedly told the judge during the tense exchange.
According to Minnesota's FOX 9, which observed the hearing, Le stated: "The system sucks, this job sucks, I am trying with every breath I have to get you what I need." She reportedly appeared visibly upset throughout the proceedings.
Overwhelmed by Legal Challenges
Court records indicate Le has been named as the government's attorney on more than 80 immigration cases in Minnesota since the beginning of the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge. During the hearing, she explained she was simply "overwhelmed" by the number of legal challenges stemming from Trump's mass deportation initiatives.
"I am here to make sure the agency understands how important it is to comply with court orders," Le told Judge Blackwell. She reportedly described the process of getting Homeland Security and the Justice Department to follow judicial directives as being like "pulling teeth."
Justice Department Responds to Allegations
In a statement to media outlets, the Justice Department denied allegations that ICE isn't following court orders and instead blamed judges for "overwhelming" their own courts by failing to properly prepare them for immigration cases.
A spokesperson asserted that the Trump administration is "complying with court orders and fully enforcing federal immigration law" following what they described as "four years of de facto amnesty" under Joe Biden's presidency. The statement continued: "If rogue judges followed the law in adjudicating cases and respected the government's obligation to properly prepare cases, there wouldn't be an 'overwhelming' habeas caseload or concern over DHS following orders."
The spokesperson further claimed that "the level of illegal aliens currently detained is a direct result of this Administration's strong border security policies to keep the American people safe."
Pattern of Attorney Departures and Pressure
Le appears to be among several government lawyers who have been forced from their positions following frank admissions in court hearings regarding challenges with the Trump administration's immigration policies. This pattern reflects broader tensions within the Justice Department under the current administration.
Last year, the Justice Department fired attorney Erez Reuveni after he expressed frustration with the government's inability to respond to court questions about the case of Salvadoran immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose mistaken removal from the United States sparked ongoing legal battles. Reuveni had been placed on administrative leave after admitting that "he should not have been sent to El Salvador."
According to advocacy group Justice Connection, which tracks departures, the Trump administration has fired, forced out, or offered buyouts to approximately 5,500 attorneys and other Justice Department employees. This represents a significant portion of the roughly 10,000 attorneys who worked across the Justice Department and its components, including the FBI, last year.
Minnesota Prosecutors Fleeing Office
The situation in Minnesota reflects broader national trends, with top federal prosecutors reportedly leaving the U.S. Attorney's office over mounting frustrations with the Trump administration's anti-immigration agenda. At least eight more career prosecutors are departing the Minnesota office, following several resignations last month under pressure from the Justice Department.
Among those who left recently was veteran prosecutor Joseph Thompson, who had been appointed by Trump to serve as Minnesota's acting U.S. attorney and first assistant U.S. attorney. Thompson reportedly objected to the Justice Department's refusal to investigate the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis as a civil rights matter and was allegedly outraged by demands to pursue a criminal investigation into Good instead.
These departures highlight the growing tensions between career legal professionals and political directives within immigration enforcement systems, with courtroom outbursts like Le's serving as visible symptoms of deeper systemic strains.
