An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorney assigned to Minnesota for the Trump administration's immigration operations in the Twin Cities has been removed from her position. The attorney, Julie Le, was sent back to her previous role at ICE.
Attorney Removed After Exchange with Judge
Le's removal followed a contentious exchange with a federal judge on Tuesday. During the proceedings, she stated that her job was made difficult by the overwhelming workload and the government's persistent challenges in complying with court orders.
She indicated that the government lacked sufficient lawyers to manage Operation Metro Surge and described efforts to correct errors as profoundly challenging.
Speaking to US District Judge Jerry Blackwell, who has threatened contempt charges against her and another lawyer for repeated violations of immigration case orders, Le candidly commented on the procedural difficulties and her extensive workload. She mentioned working extended hours due to ongoing detentions and expressed frustration with the system.
"My job was difficult due to the workload and the government's apparent challenges in complying with court orders."
Widespread Judicial Scrutiny and Violations
Since the immigration crackdown began, Julie Le and other administration lawyers handling Minnesota immigration cases have faced intense scrutiny from judges regarding case management errors.
Last week, the chief judge of the state's federal trial-level court issued a stark statement:
"ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence," citing nearly 100 recent violations.
These violations included numerous orders for the immediate release of immigrant detainees deemed unlawfully held in Minnesota or Texas. Judges, including Blackwell, also expressed significant concern over release conditions imposed by ICE that were not specifically authorized by the court.
Judge's Acknowledgment and Firm Stance
Le informed Judge Blackwell that correcting a single release condition could require multiple emails, escalations, and even threats of withdrawal from cases.
While Judge Blackwell acknowledged that Le and Justice Department attorney Ana Voss were working "in good faith and under difficult circumstances," he emphasized that court orders are not optional and must be complied with without exception.