In a striking moment during a recent court hearing, a frustrated attorney from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expressed her overwhelming dissatisfaction with her job, stating bluntly that it "sucks." This emotional declaration came as Julie Le, who had recently been assigned to the U.S. Attorney's office, struggled to explain why the government had failed to comply with judicial orders concerning individuals being held in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"What do you want me to do? The system sucks," Le told Judge Jerry Blackwell, as recorded in a court transcript obtained by ABC News. "This job sucks. And I am trying [with] every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Her candid remarks raised eyebrows and highlighted the frustration many feel regarding the immigration enforcement process.
According to federal court records, over the past month, Le has been responsible for 91 immigration cases—88 in Minnesota and three in Texas. Most of these involve habeas petitions filed on behalf of immigrants detained by enforcement authorities. Judge Blackwell pointed out that the administration habitually disregards court directives, leading to situations where detainees remain imprisoned for extended periods, sometimes days or weeks longer than necessary.
"The overwhelming majority of the hundreds [of individuals] seen by this court have been found to be lawfully present in the country," Blackwell noted. He emphasized that in several cases, individuals were being detained without legal justification, which raises significant constitutional concerns.
The judge acknowledged the challenges posed by Operation Metro Surge, which has resulted in a surge of arrests and detentions, straining the existing systems and coordination between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the DHS. However, he firmly stated that these operational difficulties do not excuse the government's failure to respond to court orders. "The volume of cases and matters is not a justification for diluting constitutional rights and it never can be," he asserted. He argued that a lack of adequate infrastructure to handle such cases should serve as a warning rather than an excuse for ongoing detentions.
Judge Blackwell also pressed Le about potential contempt of court issues related to the actions of the Trump administration concerning these violations. Le lamented her role, suggesting, "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."
Le revealed that she had previously submitted her resignation from her post at DHS, but due to staffing shortages, no replacement could be found. She mentioned giving them a specific timeline to address this issue, stating, "If they don't, then by all means, I'm going to walk out."
An official later confirmed to ABC News that Le is no longer detailed to the U.S. Attorney's office. When approached for comment, Le did not respond immediately.
Tricia McLaughlin, an Assistant Secretary at DHS, criticized Le’s comments, describing her behavior as "unprofessional" and inconsistent with the expectations of an ICE attorney, emphasizing the importance of commitment and dedication to the interests of the United States Government.
Throughout the hearing, Le described the arduous process of obtaining responses from ICE regarding judicial orders as akin to "pulling teeth." She admitted that she had "stupidly" volunteered for the assignment at DHS, motivated by a sense of duty to help amidst overwhelming circumstances, despite having only been in her position for a month.
"When I started with the job, I have to be honest, we have no guidance on what we need to do," Le confessed, prompting Judge Blackwell to inquire whether she had received any proper orientation or training. Reluctantly, Le affirmed that she had not.
The judge further probed Le about troubling cases where detainees ordered to be released had already been transferred to facilities in other states, and about individuals unlawfully detained who faced conditions like wearing ankle monitors, which had not been mandated by the court.
Le expressed her shared concern regarding these injustices, stating, "I share the same concern with you, your honor. I am not white, as you can see. And my family's at risk as any other people that might get picked up, too, so I share the same concern, and I took that concern to heart."
She poignantly added, "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, Judge Blackwell issued a firm reminder that "a court order is not advisory, and it is not conditional," indicating the serious implications of failing to comply with legal mandates. He stressed that unlawful detention represents not merely a technical issue but a significant constitutional violation that adversely affects individuals who have committed no wrongdoing.
He concluded with a powerful statement: "The DOJ, the DHS, and ICE are not above the law. They wield extraordinary power, and that power must operate within constitutional limits. When court orders are disregarded, it jeopardizes not only the authority of the court but also the rights of individuals in custody and the integrity of our constitutional system."
As the hearing wrapped up, Judge Blackwell indicated that he would take into consideration everything that was discussed. The gravity of this situation raises important questions about the treatment of detainees and the responsibilities of those in authority.
