Sen. Clare McCaskill has moved to block the confirmation of Julie Myers (shown left), Bush’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security and the top official at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The moves comes as part of the continuing fallout over a Halloween costume party Myers co-hosted, at which she awarded a prize for most original costume to an ICE employee who came dressed as an “immigration detainee”, a costume that included a striped prison uniform, dreadlocks, and skin-darkening make-up. (yikes!) Unsurprisingly, many took offense at the costume, Myers was forced to apologize, and the wearer of the costume was put on leave from the agency. Sen. McCaskill, who had long opposed Julie Myers’ appointment to the position of top immigration enforcer , then moved to place the nomination on hold, saying it was an example of cronyism. Sources say the nomination could well be dead as a result. Myers was installed in the top position at ICE by Bush in January 2006 as a recess appointment. Critics from all sides of the spectrum contend that Myers lacks the experience to justify making her chief of the agency. Read.

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