I get what you’re saying. But outside of putting moles within ICE or the sheriff’s office, how exactly could they have become involved? There’s only so many folks at the ACLU, and it’s not like they have a great relationship with ICE or any police departments.
If that were my employee, I’d be calling A) a lawyer B) the ACLU & C) the free press. And I’d call them all right away- the more pressure on the police department and ICE, the better. Seems to me that someone on the outside that knew about the situation dropped the ball here. It’s not as if the guy had many options on the inside.
And, the ACLU is all about protecting individual freedoms- and not a political party’s agenda. They’ve become associated with left wing causes, like abortion. But that’s because restricting abortion is an attempt to restrict an established individual freedom. There’s nothing inconsistent in them being involved in that arena. Like them or hate them, I don’t think their core philosophy has changed.
The ACLU was fighting for the right to hold the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. That would hardly have been a left-wing cause to rake in the cash. That's just an example.