- Overview
- Leadership
- Office of Public Affairs
- Office of Congressional Relations
- Office of the Principal Legal Advisor
- Office of Professional Responsibility
- Office of Detention Policy & Planning
- Office of State, Local and Tribal Coordination
- Enforcement & Removal Operations
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Management &
Administration - Detention Facilities
- Contact ICE
- Careers
Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
The ICE Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is the agency's public face, a team of communications professionals dedicated to telling the story of ICE and fostering an understanding of the agency's mission through outreach to employees, the media and the general public.
OPA strives at all times to maintain transparency, consistency, accuracy and credibility in the agency’s communication efforts. Effective and reliable communication to both external and internal audiences is integral to supporting the agency’s enforcement efforts and directly affects the agency’s reputation and the morale of ICE employees.
OPA also oversees the agency's internal communication needs, offering a wide range of multimedia products to agency employees through a variety of publications and media channels. In addition, OPA administers the agency’s key online properties, including ICE.gov and the agency’s Intranet.
ICE OPA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. ICE field public affairs officers, located throughout the country, are responsible for regional media relations in designated geographic areas.
Mission
OPA builds understanding and support for the agency's mission through outreach to DHS employees, the media and the general public. With a strong commitment to transparency and candor, OPA strives at all times to maintain transparency, consistency, accuracy and credibility in the agency’s communication efforts.
Leadership
Brian P. Hale
Assistant Director of Office of Public Affairs
Brian P. Hale is assistant director of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hale is responsible for ICE's internal and external communications in support of the agency's mission. He oversees a team of communications professionals who handle press inquiries, develop and distribute news releases and provide writing and multimedia services.
Mr. Hale previously served in the National Press Office in the Office of Public Affairs at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington, D.C. Mr. Hale handled international and national media inquires and served as a spokesman for the FBI on matters related to counterterrorism, weapons of mass destruction and operational technology. He also was the Office of Public Affairs' primary media training instructor.
Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Hale was press relations manager for Patton Boggs, LLP, an international law firm based in Washington, D.C. As the primary media liaison and spokesperson for the firm, he coordinated responses to media inquiries and maintained relationships with reporters from both general and legal media outlets. In addition, he provided crisis communications planning for the firm and select high-profile clients.
Before joining Patton Boggs, Mr. Hale served as a field producer for ABC News 20/20, where he worked on several international and national stories, including the Iraq War, the Washington, D.C., sniper investigation, the September 11th attacks, the Concorde crash and the Columbine school shootings.
He has received several broadcast journalism team coverage awards, including a News Emmy 2002 for "Sept. 11th Coverage," the George S. Peabody Award 2002 for "Sept. 11th Coverage," a Columbia DuPont Journalism Award 2002 for "Sept. 11th Coverage," the CINE Eagle 2001 for coverage of the "Bombing of USS Cole," and a News Emmy nomination 2003 for "Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Event."
Mr. Hale previously worked as a program instructor at Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C. At Meridian, he coordinated itineraries for foreign government officials and multiregional groups traveling in the U.S. and led intercultural training sessions with students from developing countries.
Mr. Hale graduated from the University of Kentucky, where he earned a master's degree in international relations and a bachelor's degree in political science.
Mr. Hale is a member of the National Press Club.
Contact
For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at (202) 732-4242.
