Immigration and Customs Enforcement is pushing back against a government watchdog agency’s suggestion ICE agents’ body cameras should turn on automatically.
Typically, ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents’ are required to turn on their cameras at the beginning of enforcement.
“We found some areas where they could improve,” Government Accountability Office Director Heather MacLeod said.
The nonpartisan watchdog released a report this week — “CBP and ICE should improve body-warn camera program management” — which found the agencies don’t always give clear guidance on the use of cameras.
Some CBP and ICE agents said they thought “camera use is not mandated,” “up to interpretation” and “has gray areas.”
Some ICE agents said they “had not begun using cameras … due to this uncertainty.”
“Body-worn cameras, they have the potential to promote public trust, accountability and transparency,” MacLeod said.
The GAO report urges ICE to make agents’ cameras automatically start recording when they turn on their sirens or pull out a gun.
CBP cameras already have that function, but according to the report, ICE is reluctant, citing privacy concerns for civilians.
“There are no punitive measures,” MacLeod said about GAO suggestions. “Essentially, we’ll continue following up with them, working with them.”
A New York Times analysis found at least 25 people have been shot at by federal immigration agents during President Donald Trump’s second term. Six of those people died, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis, and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.
In some cases, ICE agents wore body cameras, but in other cases, they didn’t.
Border czar Tom Homan told Fox News over the summer he supports the use of body cameras.
“They exonerate more law enforcement than they convict, and I want officers to wear body cameras, ‘cause I want the American people to see what the officer saw when they took that action,” he said.
According to the GAO, the Department of Homeland Security did agree with the other recommendations in the report, as far as the need to give agents clearer guidance on when to turn on their cameras.
A DHS official submitted a letter saying, “These programs are designed to enhance officer safety, transparency, accountability, and public trust. CBP and ICE continue to refine their policy frameworks and training to ensure these systems effectively support officers and agents while upholding these core values.”
