Julie Myers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Julie L. Myers
Julie Myers
Assistant Secretary, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Department of Homeland Security
In office
January 4, 2006 – present
Preceded by John P. Clark (acting)
Political party Republican
Spouse John F. Wood
Children 1 son
Alma mater Baylor University, 1991
Cornell Law School, 1994
Religion Baptist; married in the Episcopal Church

Julie L. Myers (born 1969) is the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She assumed the job following a recess appointment by President George W. Bush on January 4, 2006. Previously, Myers worked for the Office of Independent Counsel under Kenneth Starr and was a lead prosecutor in the Independent Counsel's failed case against Susan McDougal. [1] After leaving the Office of Independent Counsel, Myers was appointed Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce for one year. In that capacity, she oversaw 170 employees and a $25 million budget for one year. She also is the niece of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Richard Myers, and is the wife of John F. Wood, the current U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri and the former chief of staff for the Secretary of Homeland Security[1]. Michael Chertoff is the Secretary of Homeland Security[2] and her boss.[3]

Contents

[edit] Assistant secretary

On June 30, 2005, Myers was nominated by President Bush to head up the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. On September 15 she testified in front of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Coming after the resignation of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) head, Michael D. Brown, the members of the committee were very suspicious that Myers is not qualified for the job, and the appointment was made for her family connections.

The committee approved Myers' nomination on a strict party line vote (with Republicans voting for the nomination). The full Senate never voted on the nomination, and President Bush gave her a recess appointment on January 4, 2006, to remain in effect until January 3, 2007. He renominated her on January 9, 2007.[4]

[edit] Criticism/Controversy

[edit] Criticism

Because the head of ICE is required by law to have at least five years of legal and management experience, three U.S. Senators -- two Republicans (George V. Voinovich, Ohio; Susan Collins, Maine) and one Independent (Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut) -- expressed grave concerns that Myers lacked sufficient law enforcement experience. [2] Much of the criticism came from conservative commentators, including The National Review, which urged President Bush to nominate a candidate with more experience. [3]


[edit] Drugging deportees

Under her administration, ICE officials admitted to administering Haldol and Cogentin to deportees without consent. Haldol and Cogentin are controlled substances that typically require a prescription from a doctor. The ACLU filed a suit on the basis that this violates the bill of rights as well as federal laws and may constitute torture[5]. On May 20, 2008, Myers wrote an op-ed piece that appeared in The Washington Post in which she stated that, in June 2007, pursuant to a federal court order, ICE had stopped administering involuntary sedation to detainees without a court order, execept in "emergencies." She added that beginning in January 2008, ICE had stopped all involuntary sedation without a court order. [4]

[edit] Costume party controversy

On Halloween of 2007, Julie Myers hosted a costume party for ICE employees of which she was a judge.[6] They awarded a top costume prize to a white Homeland Security Department employee dressed as a escaped Jamaican prisoner, complete with a prison jumpsuit, dreadlocks and blackface.[7] Although Myers issued an apology after employees complained the costume was racist and inappropriate, she had been photographed smiling with the costumed employee in question. [5] [6] Under Myers, the employee was immediately transferred from the agency headquarters to a field office and an attempt was made to delete the photographs.[6][8] The photographs, however, were not permanently deleted and the House Committee report featured the shot of Myers smiling with the employee as evidence.[6]

Initially, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff dismissed criticism of Myers, claiming "[s]he was kind of caught by surprise by this and in the middle of the party." [9] However, her nomination has since been delayed.[10][11] A report by the Democratic United States House Committee on Homeland Security ruled that Myers led a "coordinated effort to conceal" her role in the scandal.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Seper, Jerry. "Critics call Myers unfit for immigration post", The Washington Times, January 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-04-06. 
  2. ^ Department Subcomponents and Agencies. Retrieved on 2006-12-14.
  3. ^ Organizational Chart of DHS. Retrieved on 2006-12-14.
  4. ^ Jonathan Marino. "Bush moves to retain recess-appointed ICE chief", Government Executive, January 10, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-31. 
  5. ^ ACLU Seeks to Stop Drugging of Deportees By GILLIAN FLACCUS – October 10, 2007
  6. ^ a b c d e Lipton, Eric. "Official Had Controversial Photos Deleted, Report Says", New York Times, April 9, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-09. 
  7. ^ Lipton, Eric. "Official Had Controversial Photos Deleted, Report Says", New York Times, April 9, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-09. "The staff member who won the “most original costume” prize wore a dreadlock wig, what looked like a prison jumpsuit and black face paint. “I’m a Jamaican detainee from Krome — obviously, I’ve escaped,” the employee, referring to a detention center in Miami, announced to the judges..."
  8. ^ "DHS employee put on leave after wearing 'offensive' costume" by Jeanne Meserve and Mike M. Ahlers, November 6, 2007
  9. ^ Gamboa, Sue. "DHS Employee on Leave Over Costume", ABC News, November 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-09. "She was kind of caught by surprise by this and in the middle of the party and I know she's mortified, but I think she's doing what she needs to do at the moment,"
  10. ^ Costume leads to 'hold' on Myers' Senate confirmation, November 7, 2007
  11. ^ Nomination for Immigration Agency Chief Imperiled Following Halloween Costume Incident FOX News, Thursday, November 08, 2007

[edit] External links