A frustrated lawyer from the Department of Homeland Security expressed her dissatisfaction in a hearing, stating her “job sucks” and even suggested she might want to be held in contempt for needing so much sleep. Reports indicate that Julie Lu, who has a history with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, has since stopped communicating with them.
During a court session in St. Paul, Lu openly criticized the system. She remarked to U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell, “What do you want me to do? This system sucks.”
Lu added, “This job sucks, but I’m trying. Every breath I take is so you can get what you need.” She emphasized that if her efforts are persistently disrespected, she could easily rest the entire day, despite working around the clock to manage her cases.
She articulated the struggle of getting compliance from the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and the Department of Justice, calling it “like pulling teeth.” Her comments came after the judge pressed her for answers on why there had been failures to comply with court orders, including the unlawful detention of five individuals. “It takes 10 emails from me to fix the conditions of release,” Lu shared, noting that she felt ill-equipped for her role.
Admitting she “foolishly” volunteered for the position, she mentioned feeling overwhelmed and only having a month under her belt in this demanding environment. Lu noted a lack of guidance from the outset, saying, “When I started this job, there was no guidance on what I needed to do.”
Following her candid remarks, Lu has been removed from her responsibilities. It’s currently unclear if she will be reassigned. The Department of Homeland Security has not provided any comments regarding the situation.
Her statements come during Operation Metro Surge, which has resulted in significant arrests and escalating tensions between local residents and federal agents. Additionally, Tom Homan, the Border Czar, announced plans to reduce federal law enforcement positions in Minneapolis by 700, leaving about 2,000 federal employees in the area.
