A US Government Lawyer Removed from Immigration Detail Amid Frustration with Job Pressure
The US Justice Department has removed a lawyer from her post overseeing immigration cases in Minnesota after she publicly expressed frustration with the job, saying "this job sucks." The move comes as several prosecutors have left the US Attorney's office in Minnesota amid concerns over the administration's immigration enforcement surge and its impact on the federal court system.
Julie Le, who had been working for the Justice Department on a detail, made the comments during a court hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota. She told US District Judge Jerry Blackwell that she wished he could hold her in contempt of court, suggesting that the job was unsustainable due to its high volume and lack of direction.
The comment marked a rare public outburst by an employee in the Justice Department's immigration enforcement division. Le had been working for the Department of Homeland Security as an ICE attorney before volunteering for the detail assignment. Her comments highlighted the intense strain on the federal court system, which has seen a surge in immigration cases since President Trump returned to office.
The US Attorney's office in Minnesota has reported a significant decline in staff, with only 17 assistant US attorneys remaining after several left amid frustration over the administration's policies and the Justice Department's response to recent fatal shootings of civilians by federal agents. The department has been criticized for its handling of immigration enforcement cases, including the treatment of detainees and the use of conditions that are not part of court orders.
Le's removal from her post has sent a signal that the government is taking steps to address employee frustration with the job pressure. Her comments also underscore the need for reform in the Justice Department's immigration enforcement division, which has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability. As the federal court system continues to grapple with the impact of the administration's policies, it remains to be seen whether Le's removal will lead to lasting change.
The US Justice Department has removed a lawyer from her post overseeing immigration cases in Minnesota after she publicly expressed frustration with the job, saying "this job sucks." The move comes as several prosecutors have left the US Attorney's office in Minnesota amid concerns over the administration's immigration enforcement surge and its impact on the federal court system.
Julie Le, who had been working for the Justice Department on a detail, made the comments during a court hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota. She told US District Judge Jerry Blackwell that she wished he could hold her in contempt of court, suggesting that the job was unsustainable due to its high volume and lack of direction.
The comment marked a rare public outburst by an employee in the Justice Department's immigration enforcement division. Le had been working for the Department of Homeland Security as an ICE attorney before volunteering for the detail assignment. Her comments highlighted the intense strain on the federal court system, which has seen a surge in immigration cases since President Trump returned to office.
The US Attorney's office in Minnesota has reported a significant decline in staff, with only 17 assistant US attorneys remaining after several left amid frustration over the administration's policies and the Justice Department's response to recent fatal shootings of civilians by federal agents. The department has been criticized for its handling of immigration enforcement cases, including the treatment of detainees and the use of conditions that are not part of court orders.
Le's removal from her post has sent a signal that the government is taking steps to address employee frustration with the job pressure. Her comments also underscore the need for reform in the Justice Department's immigration enforcement division, which has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability. As the federal court system continues to grapple with the impact of the administration's policies, it remains to be seen whether Le's removal will lead to lasting change.
Like, who wouldn't freak out when they're stuck in a job that's sucking the life outta them? 
I'm pretty sure my grandma could've made those comments too if she had to deal with all that paperwork and stress. And let's be real, 17 assistant US attorneys is like a ghost town, what's up with that? 
It's like the government is trying to make it impossible for them to do their job. Maybe they should just give them all a raise or something... or a year's worth of vacation time 
. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that's the way to fix things! 
can't believe they got rid of her just cuz she said the job is hard 
17 assistant US attorneys left already? that's insane 
what's the deal with all these departures? seems like some serious issues need to be addressed in that office... maybe it's time for some reform 
I gotta say, 17 assistant US attorneys leaving in MN is a big deal 
. It's like, what's the point of having all these prosecutors if they're just gonna bail? 
The stats are crazy - since 2017, the number of federal arrests has increased by 65% 
. And it's not just Minnesota, other offices are feeling the heat too 
.
. That's a lot of pressure on one person. Maybe the government should reevaluate its priorities? 
]
she just spoke up about how frustrated she is with her job and now she's getting removed from her post 
it's super scary cuz i feel like we need ppl speaking out about these issues in the gov't 
but at the same time i'm lowkey relieved that someone is finally saying somethin 
i mean, no one wants to be treated disrespectedly in a job they're tryna do their best for 
so yeah let's hope this leads to some positive change & less burnout 
. We need people who actually care about justice to be doing this work, not just some burned-out lawyer who can't take it anymore 
. And what's with the comment about holding her in contempt? 
.
she just needed a break from all that stress n her job is literally draining 
it's time for the government to make some changes n give their employees better work-life balance 
, something needs to change 
. Le's comments are super relatable tbh 
.
she was just speaking truth to power u know? i mean we all need a break sometimes and job pressure is no joke 
shouldn't employers be more supportive and stuff? 
anyway, hope julie finds a new gig soon where she can chill without being stressed out all the time 
this thing is like a never ending nightmare for those on the front lines 
What really gets me though is how this affects the courts system as a whole. It's like, we need people who are dedicated to making sure our laws are fair and just, not just burning out from the pressure. 
. Maybe they can even use some of those same tools and diagrams I'm using to help them organize their thoughts 
. The government needs to start listening to its employees and figuring out a way to make this job more sustainable and less stressful 
. Otherwise, we're just gonna keep losing talented people like Julie Le who are trying to do their best but can't handle the pressure 
.
. like, she said "this job sucks" in court which is pretty dramatic