The top lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota has left the agency, the same week an ICE attorney was removed after telling a district judge that “this job sucks” and that the Trump administration is “overwhelmed” with immigration cases.
Chief Counsel Jim Stolley retired after 31 years of service, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN. McLaughlin said Stolley’s retirement was scheduled to occur but did not provide additional details.
Stolley said in an automatic email response, “I have retired from public service,” and directed inquiries to the duty attorney. CNN also reached out to Stolley by phone but has not heard back.
The New York Times was first to report on Stolley leaving his post.
Minnesota courts have been inundated with immigration cases since the Trump administration began surging immigration enforcement to the state in December.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/07/politics/ice-top-lawyer-minnesota-jim-stolley-retires
