Story perspectives

Federal Attorney Fired Amid ICE Criticism and Withdrawals

2/8/2026

Center

Attorney Fired Over ICE Issues

Federal attorney Julie Le expressed frustration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) challenges during a court hearing and was fired from her temporary role.
U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell criticized ICE for violating detainee-release orders.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a partial withdrawal of 700 federal agents from Minnesota, with 2,000 ICE agents remaining, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued an executive order limiting ICE access to state buildings.

Right

Rosen Urges Immigration Expedited

U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen urged the 8th Circuit to expedite immigration habeas petitions.
In January, 427 petitions were filed, straining resources and forcing the office to deprioritize other work.
A coalition of local schools sued the Department of Homeland Security to challenge protections for sensitive locations like schools.
The U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration says cooperation with state officials yielded over 4,000 arrests since Operation Metro Surge began in December.

Left

Stolley Retires Amid Controversy

Jim Stolley, the chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, retired after 31 years amid mounting litigation over the state's immigration crackdown.
Stolley did not comment on his departure.
The crackdown, begun by the Trump administration in December, has spurred lawsuits and delays in government responses.
Federal Judge Patrick J. Schiltz criticized ICE for violating more than 100 judicial orders, including detainee-release mandates.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, abolished the discriminatory national origins quota system that had favored Northern and Western Europeans since the 1920s. This landmark legislation allowed over 300,000 immigrants annually from diverse backgrounds, reshaping U.S. demographics and fueling ongoing debates about immigration policy and enforcement, particularly in relation to ICE practices.

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Attorney Fired Over ICE Issues

Federal attorney Julie Le expressed frustration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) challenges during a court hearing and was fired from her temporary role.
U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell criticized ICE for violating detainee-release orders.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a partial withdrawal of 700 federal agents from Minnesota, with 2,000 ICE agents remaining, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued an executive order limiting ICE access to state buildings.

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