ICE pushes back on report suggesting body cameras that automatically record
The immigration agency rejects a report from a government watchdog recommending improvements to its body camera policy.
Key points
- GAO report urges ICE to adopt body cameras that activate automatically during enforcement incidents.
- ICE rejected the recommendation, citing privacy concerns and unauthorised recording of sensitive interactions.
- ICE says all offices received body cameras by August 5, but training is still ongoing.
A United States government watchdog has recommended that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) update its rules so that agents' body cameras activate automatically. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan agency that provides research to Congress, released the report on Wednesday.
ICE rejected the recommendation. The agency cited privacy concerns, saying automatic activation could lead to the unauthorised recording of sensitive interactions with informants or victims.
What the report recommended
The GAO said automated camera activation would help in cases where unexpected and unplanned incidents unrelated to sensitive operations result in use of force by or against personnel. It said additional controls are needed to help ensure ICE personnel capture footage in accordance with policy.
The report added that automatic activation would address difficulties ICE agents face in manually turning on their cameras during enforcement operations. It noted that activation could be triggered by an agent pulling a gun or turning on a car siren.
additional controls are needed to help ensure that ICE personnel capture footage in accordance with policy
— the Government Accountability Office
Pressure over immigration raids
The Trump administration faces public pressure to improve transparency during its immigration raids. ICE and other agencies such as Customs and Border Protection have faced accusations of excessive force and civil liberties violations.
In January, two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot to death in separate shootings in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during immigration operations. The New York Times estimated in July that immigration agents had opened fire on at least 25 people since the start of Trump's second term, and a CBS News review updated this week counts at least 30 shootings, with nine people killed and 13 others wounded.
ICE has often blamed such incidents on aggression against its agents. The agency said all ICE offices had received body cameras as of August 5, but training in their use was still ongoing and would be finished soon.
