An exasperated and pissed off Division of Homeland Safety lawyer declared in a surprising second in courtroom that her job “sucks,” the present authorized course of “sucks,” and that she typically needs that the decide would maintain her in contempt so she “can have a full 24 hours of sleep.”
Julie Le, who in keeping with public data is a Division of Homeland Safety lawyer that had been detailed to the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace, was referred to as to testify Tuesday in U.S. District Court docket in St. Paul, Minn., about why the federal government has been nonresponsive to judicial orders relating to folks in ICE detention.
“What would you like me to do? The system sucks,” Le advised Decide Jerry Blackwell, in keeping with a courtroom transcript obtained by ABC Information. “This job sucks. And I’m attempting [with] each breath that I’ve in order that I can get you what you want.”
Blackwell mentioned the administration has routinely not been following courtroom mandates, ignoring a number of orders for detainees to be launched that has resulted of their continued detainment for days and even weeks.
On this Dec. 15, 2021, file picture, the U.S. District Courthouse for the District of Minnesota is proven in St. Paul, Minn.
Nikolas Liepins/AP, FILE
“The overwhelming majority of the a whole bunch [of individuals] seen by this courtroom have been discovered to be lawfully current as of now within the nation,” mentioned Blackwell. “In some situations, it’s the continued detention of an individual the Structure doesn’t allow the federal government to carry and who ought to have been left alone, that’s, not arrested within the first place,” in keeping with the transcript.
Operation Metro Surge has “generated a quantity of arrests and detentions that has taxed current methods, staffing, and coordination between DOJ and the DHS,” Blackwell acknowledged, however mentioned that was no excuse for the federal government’s lack of response to courtroom orders.
“The quantity of instances and issues just isn’t a justification for diluting constitutional rights and it by no means might be” mentioned Blackwell. “It heightens the necessity for care. Having what you’re feeling are too many detainees, too many instances, too many deadlines, and never sufficient infrastructure to maintain up with all of it just isn’t a protection to continued detention. If something, it should be a warning signal.”
Blackwell additionally questioned Le relating to why the Donald Trump administration shouldn’t be held in contempt for violating courtroom orders.
Protestors conflict with federal brokers outdoors the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Constructing in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 8, 2026.
Octavio Jones/AFP through Getty Photos
“I’m right here as a bridge and a liaison between the one which [is] in jail, as a result of if I stroll out – typically I want you’d simply maintain me in contempt, Your Honor, in order that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep. I work day and evening simply because persons are nonetheless in there,” Le mentioned.
Le additionally advised the decide that she had beforehand submitted her resignation from her DHS submit, “however they could not discover a alternative. So I gave them a selected time … to get it performed. If they do not, then by all means, I will stroll out,” she mentioned.
An official confirmed to ABC Information that Le is not detailed to the U.S. lawyer’s workplace. Le didn’t instantly reply to an ABC Information request for remark.
Le additional advised Blackwell in courtroom that it was like “pulling tooth” to get a response from ICE relating to judicial orders.
Le mentioned she “stupidly” volunteered for the task with DHS as a result of they have been “overwhelmed they usually need assistance” and that she has solely been within the job for a month.
“After I began with the job, I’ve to be sincere, we have now no steerage on what we have to do,” Le advised the courtroom.
Federal brokers make a site visitors cease on an individual as they supply a passport for identification, Jan. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Adam Grey/AP
“You acquired no correct orientation or coaching on what you have been imagined to do?” Blackwell requested.
“I’ve to say sure to that query,” Le responded.
Blackwell additionally questioned Le about issues he had relating to ICE detainees who have been ordered launched however that had already been moved to amenities in El Paso or New Mexico, and individuals who had been unlawfully detained however have been advised they needed to put on an ankle monitor as a situation of their launch, “which the courtroom didn’t order as a result of the particular person was unlawfully detained within the first place.”
“I share the identical concern with you, your honor,” Le responded. “I’m not white, as you may see. And my household’s in danger as every other folks which may get picked up, too, so I share the identical concern, and I took that concern to coronary heart.”
“Fixing a system, a damaged system,” Le mentioned. “I don’t have a magic button to do it. I haven’t got the ability or the voice to do it.”
Decide Blackwell started the listening to with a stern admonition that “a courtroom order just isn’t advisory, and it isn’t conditional,” and “it isn’t one thing that any company can deal with as optionally available whereas it decides how or whether or not to adjust to the courtroom order.”
Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem in Washington, Jan. 24, 2026, Border Czar Tom Homan in Washington, Jan. 14, 2026 and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino in Minneapolis, Jan. 13, 2026.
Getty Photos/EPA/Shutterstock/Reuters
“Detention with out lawful authority isn’t just a technical defect, it’s a constitutional damage that unfairly falls on the heads of those that have performed nothing fallacious to justify it. The people affected are folks. The overwhelming majority of the a whole bunch seen by this courtroom have been discovered to be lawfully current as of now within the nation. They reside of their communities. Some are separated from their households,” Blackwell mentioned.
“The DOJ, the DHS, and ICE usually are not above the regulation. They do wield extraordinary energy, and that energy has to exist inside constitutional limits. When courtroom orders usually are not adopted, it isn’t simply the courtroom’s authority that is at subject. It’s the rights of people in custody and the integrity of the constitutional system itself.”
Blackwell adjourned the listening to saying he would all that he heard beneath advisement.
