Former DHS Lawyer Announces Congressional Bid Against Ilhan Omar

A former lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security, who gained attention for expressing dissatisfaction with her job in court, has declared her intention to run for Congress in an effort to unseat Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar.

Julie Lee, who was dismissed shortly after her outburst during a court hearing last month, believes she would bring a more moderate perspective than Omar, who has frequently advocated for the abolition of ICE.

Lee, competing in the Democratic primary on August 11, previously served as chief assistant general counsel representing ICE at DHS and had met with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota this year.

During a recent hearing related to Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, Lee expressed her fatigue and frustration, pleading with a judge to hold her in contempt so she could “get a good 24-hour sleep.”

“What do you want me to do? This system sucks,” she said to U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell in a St. Paul courtroom.

“This job sucks, but I’m trying. I’m taking every breath to make sure you get what you need,” she exclaimed.

She mentioned that she was fired just hours later.

Now venturing into politics, Lee officially launched her campaign against Omar over the weekend. Reflecting on her courtroom frustrations, she realized her role as a lawyer left her unable to enact change within a flawed legal system.

“Only legislators can control this problem by changing the law, updating the law or doing something,” she expressed in an interview.

Lee emphasized that her challenge to Omar isn’t out of belief that Omar is failing in her role, but rather to foster meaningful discussions.

In her campaign platform, she highlighted immigration reform, education funding, and healthcare access as crucial issues.

Originally from communist Vietnam, Lee grew up in the Philippines and came to the U.S. with her family as refugees in 1993.