Government Attorney Removed from Minnesota Operation After Complaining "This Job Stinks"

The lawyer was pulled from the case after criticizing the federal immigration operation during a court hearing.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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A government attorney who told a judge that her work "stinks" during a court hearing stemming from the federal immigration operation in Minnesota has been removed from the case. The lawyer, whose name has not been released, made the comment while arguing against a request to unseal documents related to the operation.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the tensions and challenges faced by government lawyers working on high-profile and controversial immigration enforcement actions. The attorney's candid criticism of the work raises questions about morale, oversight, and transparency within the federal agencies involved.

The details

During a recent court hearing, the government attorney argued against a request to unseal documents related to the immigration operation in Minnesota. At one point, she told the judge that "this work apesta" - which means "this work stinks" in Spanish. The judge expressed surprise at the lawyer's blunt language, and shortly after, the attorney was removed from the case by her superiors.

The court hearing where the attorney made the comments took place on February 4, 2026.

The players