Steve Neavling

 A gender discrimination lawsuit has caused a sense of unrest and turmoil at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the New York Times reports.

The lawsuit, which accuses the agency of retaliation and choosing female employees over male employees, also says the agency’s chief of staff, Suzanne Barr, created a hostile, sexualized environment at work.

The defendant, Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security, which is on paid leave pending the outcome of an internal probe.

The suit was filed by James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of investigations for the agency’s New York office.