Former ICE Lawyer Seeks Congressional Seat After Criticizing Immigration System

Julie T. Le, who once told a judge the immigration system "sucks," is running for Congress in Minnesota to fix its "failures."

Mar. 11, 2026 at 8:18pm

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Julie T. Le, a former government lawyer who worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, is running for Congress after publicly criticizing the immigration system during a court hearing. Le said the "system sucks" and the "job sucks" as she struggled to keep up with the torrent of litigation generated by the administration's immigration crackdown. She is now seeking to unseat incumbent Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, saying she would be a more moderate lawmaker.

Why it matters

Le's decision to run for Congress after her outburst in court highlights the growing frustration among some government officials with the immigration system and enforcement policies. Her candidacy could provide an interesting contrast to Rep. Omar's progressive stance on immigration issues.

The details

During a federal court hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota, Le, who was part of a team of government lawyers responding to lawsuits filed by immigrants challenging their detentions, told the judge she had reached a breaking point. She said she wished the judge would hold her in contempt and send her to jail "so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep." Le has now left her job at ICE and announced a run for Congress, saying she wants to fix the immigration "system's failures." She is running for the seat held by Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat who has served in Congress since 2019.

  • In February 2026, Le had the outburst in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • This week, Le announced she had left her job at ICE and is running for Congress.
  • The Minnesota primary election is scheduled for August 11, 2026.

The players

Julie T. Le

A former government lawyer who worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, and is now running for Congress to fix the "failures" of the immigration system.

Rep. Ilhan Omar

The Democratic incumbent who has served in Congress representing Minnesota's 5th district since 2019.

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What they’re saying

“The system sucks. This job sucks.”

— Julie T. Le, Former ICE Lawyer

“Even as a U.S. citizen, I was afraid that we could be detained based on how we look.”

— Julie T. Le, Former ICE Lawyer

What’s next

The Minnesota primary election is scheduled for August 11, 2026, where Le will challenge incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar.

The takeaway

Le's decision to run for Congress after publicly criticizing the immigration system she worked within highlights the growing frustration among some government officials with current policies and enforcement practices. Her candidacy could provide an interesting contrast to Rep. Omar's progressive stance on immigration issues.