U.S. official apologizes over racial costume

[Judi Lynn]

Source: MSNBC/Associated Press

U.S. official apologizes over racial costume
Immigration chief hailed white employee in prison stripes, dark makeup
updated 9:55 p.m. ET Nov. 5, 2007

WASHINGTON - A top immigration official has apologized after awarding “most original costume” to a Homeland Security Department employee who dressed in prison stripes, dreadlocks and dark makeup for a Halloween gathering at the agency.

Julie Myers, assistant secretary overseeing Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, was part of a three-judge panel that lauded the costume, worn by a white employee, last Wednesday. She also posed for a photo with him.

Myers apologized to employees last Friday in an e-mail, saying some costumes were found to be offensive. On Friday, she called the National Association of African Americans in DHS to inform the group of what had happened, according to a letter sent to association members by the group’s vice president, Sjon Shavers.
(snip)

The employee who wore the costume was not identified, but ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said he was counseled by his supervisor. He was not wearing blackface but makeup that was a darker color than his skin, Nantel said.





Julie Myers

Julie L. Myers is the assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In that role, Ms. Myers leads the largest investigative component of the Department of Homeland Security and the second largest investigative agency in the federal government, with more than 15,000 employees, including 6,000 investigators, and an annual budget of more than $4 billion. ICE is comprised of four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Prior to her appointment by President Bush on Jan. 4, 2006, Ms. Myers served as special assistant to the president for presidential personnel. Before that, she was nominated by President Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as assistant secretary for Export Enforcement at the Department of Commerce. As assistant secretary, Ms. Myers supervised a nationwide law enforcement agency that specialized in export control violation, both civil and criminal.

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/biography_0149.shtm



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