Julie Myers
Encyclopedia
Julie L. Myers was 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
.
After leaving the Office of Independent Counsel, Myers was appointed Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement
at the Department of Commerce. 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 former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri and the former chief of staff for the Secretary of Homeland Security. Michael Chertoff
, the Secretary of Homeland Security at the time, was her boss.
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. The committee approved Myers's 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. She was finally confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 2007.
On November 5, 2008, the day after the election of Barack Obama
, Secretary Chertoff announced the resignation of Myers effective November 15. Myers was succeeded by ICE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations John P. Torres
, a career ICE employee.
, Maine) and one Independent (Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut) -- expressed grave concerns that Myers lacked sufficient law enforcement experience, despite her experience as a federal prosecutor and previously running another federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Commerce. Significant criticism came from conservative commentators, including The National Review, which urged President Bush to nominate a candidate with more experience.
Myers was criticized for some of the methods used by ICE agents during work site enforcement raids they conducted while she was head of ICE, including subjecting people to interrogation and denying access to bathrooms without an escort. Myers responded that the methods used were legal, citing a 1984 Supreme Court ruling.
of 2007, Myers hosted a costume party for ICE employees of which she was a judge. They awarded a top costume prize to a white Homeland Security Department employee dressed as an escaped Jamaican prisoner, complete with a prison jumpsuit, dreadlocks and blackface
. 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. Under Myers, the employee was temporarily transferred from the agency headquarters to a field office, and an attempt allegedly made to delete the photographs. The photographs, however, were not permanently deleted and the House Committee
report featured the shot of Myers smiling with the employee as evidence.
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." However, her nomination was delayed. A report by the United States House Committee on Homeland Security
ruled that Myers led a "coordinated effort to conceal" her role in the scandal.
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She assumed the job following a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on January 4, 2006. Previously, Myers worked for the Office of Independent Counsel
United States Office of the Independent Counsel
United States Office of the Independent Counsel was an independent prosecutor — distinct from the Attorney General of the United States Department of Justice — that provided reports to the Congress under . The office was terminated in 1999 and replaced by the U.S...
under Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Winston "Ken" Starr is an American lawyer and educational administrator who has also been a federal judge. He is best known for his investigation of figures during the Clinton administration....
and was a lead prosecutor in the Independent Counsel's failed case against Susan McDougal
Susan McDougal
Susan McDougal is one of the few people who served prison time as a result of the Whitewater controversy although fifteen individuals were convicted of various federal charges...
.
After leaving the Office of Independent Counsel, Myers was appointed Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement
Office of Export Enforcement
The Office of Export Enforcement is a part of the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security.The office's introduction is as follows:...
at the Department of Commerce. In that capacity, she oversaw 170 employees and a $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
25 million budget for one year. She also is the niece of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Richard Myers
Richard Myers
Richard Bowman Myers is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force and served as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As Chairman, Myers was the United States military's highest ranking uniformed officer....
, and is the wife of John F. Wood, the former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri and the former chief of staff for the Secretary of Homeland Security. Michael Chertoff
Michael Chertoff
Michael Chertoff was the second United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush and co-author of the USA PATRIOT Act. He previously served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, as a federal prosecutor, and as assistant U.S. Attorney...
, the Secretary of Homeland Security at the time, was her boss.
Assistant secretary
On June 30, 2005, Myers was nominated by President BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to head up the Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
(ICE) agency. On September 15 she testified in front of the Senate's
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The committee approved Myers's nomination on a strict party-line vote
Party-line vote
A party-line vote in a deliberative assembly is a vote in which every member of a political party votes the same way...
(with Republicans voting for the nomination). The full Senate never voted on the nomination, and President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
gave her a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
on January 4, 2006, to remain in effect until January 3, 2007. He renominated her on January 9, 2007. She was finally confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 2007.
On November 5, 2008, the day after the election of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, Secretary Chertoff announced the resignation of Myers effective November 15. Myers was succeeded by ICE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations John P. Torres
John P. Torres
John P. Torres was acting assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . He was appointed on November 17, 2008.-Early career:...
, a career ICE employee.
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 CollinsSusan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins is the junior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1996, she is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs...
, Maine) and one Independent (Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut) -- expressed grave concerns that Myers lacked sufficient law enforcement experience, despite her experience as a federal prosecutor and previously running another federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Commerce. Significant criticism came from conservative commentators, including The National Review, which urged President Bush to nominate a candidate with more experience.
Myers was criticized for some of the methods used by ICE agents during work site enforcement raids they conducted while she was head of ICE, including subjecting people to interrogation and denying access to bathrooms without an escort. Myers responded that the methods used were legal, citing a 1984 Supreme Court ruling.
Costume party controversy
On HalloweenHalloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
of 2007, Myers hosted a costume party for ICE employees of which she was a judge. They awarded a top costume prize to a white Homeland Security Department employee dressed as an escaped Jamaican prisoner, complete with a prison jumpsuit, dreadlocks and blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
. 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. Under Myers, the employee was temporarily transferred from the agency headquarters to a field office, and an attempt allegedly made to delete the photographs. The photographs, however, were not permanently deleted and the House Committee
United States House Committee on Homeland Security
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Its responsibilities include U.S...
report featured the shot of Myers smiling with the employee as evidence.
Initially, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff
Michael Chertoff
Michael Chertoff was the second United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush and co-author of the USA PATRIOT Act. He previously served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, as a federal prosecutor, and as assistant U.S. Attorney...
dismissed criticism of Myers, claiming "[s]he was kind of caught by surprise by this and in the middle of the party." However, her nomination was delayed. A report by the United States House Committee on Homeland Security
United States House Committee on Homeland Security
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Its responsibilities include U.S...
ruled that Myers led a "coordinated effort to conceal" her role in the scandal.