Julie Myers Cleared For Immigration And Customs Enforcement Post

Julie Myers was confirmed by the Senate tonight as the director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, despite concerns about her involvement in a racial controversy.

Myers' name was included on the list of dozens of dozens of executive-branch nominations approved by the Senate before it adjourned for the year.

Myers had been facing opposition from Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) following Myers' participation as a judge in a Halloween costume contest. Myers was part of a panel that gave a "most original" award to a white employee who came to the contest with fake dreadlocks, prison garb and dark makeup.

Myers, daughter of Gen. Richard Myers, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was recess appointed to the ICE directorship in Jan. 2006 after the Senate failed to confirm her original nomination. Democrats, and some Republicans, questioned her qualifications for office, claiming she lacked experience to run an agency of such size and complexity.

Myers is married to the John F. Wood, a U.S. attorney in Missouri and the former chief of staff to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Chertoff is Julie Myers' boss, since ICE comes under the aegis of the Homeland Security Department.