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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A former government immigration attorney who told a federal judge, "This job sucks," has announced a run for Congress, challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
Julie T. Le, a former attorney with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, has said she is launching her campaign as a Democrat and plans to make a formal announcement on Saturday in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, according to her campaign.
Newsweek has contacted Le for comment via contact form and Omar's office via email.
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Why It Matters
Le rose to public attention in early February when she made remarks in federal court during proceedings tied to a surge of immigration litigation in Minnesota. At the time, she was on detail to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis, handling habeas petitions on behalf of the government. During a hearing, Le expressed frustration with how the courts and immigration agencies were managing a heavy caseload.
What To Know
Le told U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell during a February 3 hearing that she wished he could hold her in contempt of court, saying it would give her "a full 24 hours of sleep."
"What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks. And I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need," Le said in the now infamous outburst.
She was removed from the Minnesota detail by federal authorities following the incident.
Le is a former assistant chief counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, a former special assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office and a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, according to her campaign website.
In her campaign announcement, Le said her priorities included comprehensive immigration reform that balances legal pathways with enforcement, expanded financial aid for college students, increased funding for arts and music programs in public schools, and broader access to health care. She added that her decision to run was motivated by a belief that legislative action is needed to address the systemic issues she has observed.
Le is running in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold that includes Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. Omar, who has held the seat since 2019, is seeking reelection to a fifth term.
"It's not because she's not doing the job," Le told The Washington Post. "It's just for what I could bring to the table."
Minneapolis was thrust into the forefront of the national spotlight after the Trump administration launched Operation Metro Surge to investigate fraud in the city's Somali community. This large immigration enforcement operation was quickly overshadowed after federal agents in the city shot and killed two U.S. citizens, sparking national outrage.
What People Are Saying
Julie T. Le, a former attorney with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told The Washington Post: "Legislators are the only ones that can change the law, or update the laws, or do something, so that we can have this under control."
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security previously told Newsweek: "The individual was a probationary attorney. This conduct is unprofessional and unbecoming of an ICE attorney in abandoning her obligation to act with commitment, dedication, and zeal to the interests of the United States Government."
What Happens Next
Le's campaign launch is scheduled for March 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northwoods Park in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, according to her website.
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