An Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney sent to Minnesota to help respond to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities has been removed from his post after telling a judge the job was grueling and “abysmal” because of the government’s apparent failure to comply with court orders.

Attorney Julie Lu has been returned to work at ICE, according to a person familiar with the matter.

In a very candid exchange with a federal judge on Tuesday, Lee, asked to explain why the government is not swiftly complying with numerous court orders stemming from his immigration cases, acknowledged that the government does not have enough lawyers on the ground to properly carry out Operation Metro Surge and that trying to right the wrongs would be like “pulling teeth.”

“I have to say I foolishly (volunteered) because they are overwhelmed and need help,” she told U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell. The judge is threatening to hold her and another lawyer in contempt for repeatedly violating orders in immigration cases.

“Sometimes I wish you would look down on me, Honor, so I can get a good night’s sleep 24 hours a day. I work day and night just because people are still out there,” Lee said.

“And yes, the procedures that are currently in place suck. I’m trying to fix it,” she continued. “I’m here with you, sir. What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks. And I’m doing everything in my power to give you what you need.”

Since the crackdown began, Lee and other administrative lawyers working on immigration cases in Minnesota have come under intense scrutiny from the state’s judges over numerous errors in their cases. The chief judge of the state’s federal trial court said last week that ICE “has likely violated more court orders as of January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence,” particularly pointing to the nearly 100 court orders it said it had violated in recent weeks.

Those orders include one requiring the government to immediately release immigration detainees who judges have determined are being held illegally in Minnesota and Texas, many of whom are flown in after being arrested in the Twin Cities. The justices, including Blackwell, were also unhappy with the conditions of release that ICE imposed on some immigrants because the court did not specifically authorize ICE to impose such conditions.

“It would take 10 emails to modify the release terms,” ​​Lee told Blackwell on Tuesday. “It takes two escalations and a threat that I leave to make it right.”

Blackwell said he thought Justice Department Attorney Anna Vos, who also faces contempt charges, was “working in good faith under difficult circumstances,” but cautioned that “a court order is not a recommendation and is not conditional.”

“No agency can be treated arbitrarily in determining how or whether to comply with a court order,” the judge said.

“Too many detainees, too many cases, too many deadlines, and there doesn’t seem to be enough infrastructure to handle everything is not a defense against continued detention. If anything, it should be a red flag,” Blackwell added.