Panel OKs Immigration Nominee

WASHINGTON —  A Senate committee on Friday approved the nomination of Julie L. Myers, a lawyer with no specific immigration experience, to head U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Myers’ nomination, which ran into trouble in its early stages as both Republicans and Democrats questioned her credentials, comes amid criticism of the Bush administration for placing inexperienced political allies in key positions -- as epitomized by Michael D. Brown, the former horse association executive who resigned as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after its faltering response to Hurricane Katrina.

Myers, 36, is the niece of the recently retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers. Last month she married the chief of staff for Michael Chertoff, the head of Homeland Security; if confirmed, she would report to Chertoff.

The agency she would head, with a $4-billion budget and 20,000 employees, is one of the main agencies responsible for enforcing immigration law.

Colleagues describe Myers as tough, smart and qualified. A 1994 graduate of Cornell University Law School, she has worked as an associate counsel for Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr, as an assistant U.S. attorney and as deputy assistant Treasury secretary for money laundering and financial crimes. As assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Commerce Department, she managed a $25-million budget and 170 employees. She was Chertoff’s chief of staff when he headed the Justice Department’s criminal division.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Myers’ nomination Friday by a 7-2 vote.

Senate confirmation of the nomination, which also must be approved by the Judiciary Committee prior to a floor vote, would put her atop of an agency in turmoil. A recent draft of an internal government report criticized ICE and the Customs and Border Protection agency for their “dysfunction” and the impact that their inability to work together had had on border security.

White House spokeswoman Erin Healy described Myers as “a proven leader ... well known and respected throughout the law enforcement community.”

But when Myers first came before the committee, a number of Republicans publicly expressed doubts about her ability to handle the tough management challenges that ICE poses. By Friday, they had changed their minds.

“My decision to support Ms. Myers’ nomination today is the result of careful deliberation,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the panel’s chairwoman.

Last week, Collins said Myers “would not have been my choice” to head ICE. Collins has since met twice with Myers.

“I am satisfied that she has the skills needed to be successful in leading this challenging agency,” Collins said Friday. “It would be a mistake for this committee to disregard Secretary Chertoff’s absolute confidence and belief in her ability to serve effectively.”

Chertoff swayed Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), another committee member. When Myers appeared before the panel, Voinovich told her he wanted Chertoff to explain why she was qualified for the job, “because based on the resume, I don’t think you are.” Voinovich then spoke to Chertoff twice about Myers.

“Chertoff assured him she is the person he wants,” said Voinovich spokeswoman Marcie Ridgeway. “He believes she is uniquely qualified and has the skill sets required.”

Not all committee members were persuaded.

“My greatest concern about this nominee is her relative lack of management experience,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), who voted against her.

Citing the agency’s budget problems and internal turmoil, Lieberman said, “ICE clearly needs a proven leader, someone who can command the respect of employees while implementing a clear vision.”