I am planning to contact our regional ICE office soon with a list of potential investigations--- including information about nationwide union organizing of illegal aliens. In the past I have been in contact with that agency regarding small employers; I had been told how to submit a tip, by letter, and what essential information to include. I am also aware that they have a hotline, and one can directly talk to the duty officer at a regional office. But I want to go a little higher.

In reading some news articles about a current removal proceeding I noticed the names of the assistant and general counsels for the NW regional office. Should I try to write to them, bypassing the duty officer? These people come under a lot of scrutiny and criticism from those who feel it is their calling to advance the interests of opportunistic immigrants. OTOH, they are also criticized for not doing more. What does one do to gain their respect and trust? What size of workforce do you think would warrant the time of a government official who has a potential of hundreds of thousands of cases? These officials also investigate instances of terrorist activity. Should illegal aliens be as high a priority? Here, for example, is an article about a deportation of an Al Qaeda agent:
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases ... tacoma.htm
To understand the vociferous opposition they enounter read this:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=558

Assuming that ICE would allow a meeting, would it be better to have a group go? If one requests an investigation of a union is it asking for a long drawn out legal battle to commence, thus defeating the purpose of the request? Government investigators frequently pay little heed to anyone other than someone very high up in an organization. Is it possible to be seriously heard if you are not an officer of an organization and possessing considerable privileged knowledge?

Finally how much time do we realistically have, now that this US administration has shown it is fairly serious about a crackdown? We don't know what will happen in another a year with a leadership change, except that the resolve of the American people will still be strong.

These are some of the questions I am wrestling with. Any helpful ideas or suggestions are appreciated.