WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The employee who wore what some said was a racially insensitive Halloween costume to a party hosted by a top immigration official is being directed by the Homeland Security Department Secretary to take administrative leave . Julie Myers , head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement , called the man 's costume `` offensive . '' The employee 's leave will continue while a Department inquiry is conducted , according to Secretary Michael Chertoff . The employee wore a striped prison outfit , dreadlocks and darkened skin make-up to the party hosted by Julie Myers , head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement . Myers was on a three-judge panel that originally praised the prisoner costume for `` originality . '' After some employees complained , Myers apologized for `` a few of the costumes , '' calling them `` inappropriate and offensive . '' She said she and other senior managers `` deeply regret that this happened . '' A department photographer took a picture of Myers with the man , but the photograph or photographs , originally posted online , were deleted after it was determined the costume was offensive , ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said . Asked about the controversy at a press conference Tuesday , Chertoff said Myers was `` right to apologize for having this proceeding take place '' and said she is reaching out to members of Congress and others to make sure `` they understood her unwavering commitment to equality and fairness . '' `` Here is the bottom line : People do dumb things , '' Chertoff said . `` I get very perturbed when there is anything that is done that suggests that with respect to the enforcement of the law , we are anything other than even-handed . I have zero tolerance for racism or discrimination in the area of law enforcement . We have to be tough but we have to be fair . ... The idea that you are going to come and impersonate someone of another ethnic group , I think , is completely unacceptable . '' Between 50 and 75 people attended the party , which was a fund-raiser for the Combined Federal Campaign , a federal government collection of charities . Nantel said one employee , whom she declined to identify , was wearing a black-and-white striped prison outfit , dreadlocks and a skin `` bronzer '' intended `` to make him look African-American . '' But , she said , it was not immediately apparent that he was wearing the make-up . `` Most people in the room did n't realize he was wearing make-up at all , '' she said . `` It was unintentioned . The employee did not mean to offend although there were some employees that were rightfully offended by it , '' Nantel said . `` There were a couple of people who were offended , '' Nantel said . `` When it was confirmed through a conversation with the employee that he was wearing make-up '' the employee was counseled and Myers sent out a note to employees apologizing . `` The photo was deleted because there was a determination that the costume was inappropriate , '' Nantel said . In a November 2 email to ICE employees , Myers said , `` It is now clear that , however unintended , a few of the costumes were inappropriate and offensive . While we were all thrilled to be a part of the CFC fund-raising effort , I and the senior management at ICE deeply regret that this happened . '' She reminded all employees to be compliant with the department 's diversity training requirement . Myers has served as head of ICE since January of 2006 but is still awaiting Senate confirmation . An ICE congressional liaison said ICE officials briefed congressional staffers about the costume party this week as a courtesy . But at least one congressional staffer said they approached ICE after receiving an anonymous fax about the incident . Myers called House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson , a Democrat from Mississippi , about the incident and is expected to meet with him before the end of the week , a Thompson spokeswoman told CNN . Myers also contacted the National Association of African-Americans in the Department of Homeland Security . In a letter to NAADHS members , the group 's vice president , Sjon Shavers , said the group `` appreciates ( Myers ) reaching out to us so quickly in order to keep us apprised of the matter and we commend her on moving so swiftly toward appropriate corrective action . '' As head of ICE , Myers heads the law enforcement agency charged with enforcing immigration law in the nation 's interior . It is the second largest investigative agency in the federal government , with more than 15,000 employees , including 6,000 investigators . Chertoff `` supports the actions that Assistant Secretary Myers has taken , '' DHS spokeswoman Laura Keehner said . `` We do not tolerate inappropriate behavior at DHS . `` The secretary has asked for an inquiry into the facts surrounding the incident . Once the facts have been determined , we will take all necessary and appropriate actions . '' E-mail to a friend .
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Hayden told him to take leave . Man in prison outfit , dreadlocks and darkened skin make - up went to party . Party guest was Julie Chen , head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement . She and other judges at first gave man praise for costume 's ` ` originality ''