U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in five major cities are set to start wearing body-worn cameras as they interact with the public, a new policy announced by Acting ICE Director Patrick J. Lechleitner on Wednesday.
The move comes as part of President Biden’s efforts to increase transparency and trust in law enforcement by requiring federal officers who are out in the public to wear body cameras. ICE has 1,600 body-worn cameras that will be distributed to agents and officers in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Buffalo, and Detroit.
“This is also an important step to further build public trust and confidence in our dedicated and professional law enforcement officials,” Lechleitner said.
ICE is comprised of two law enforcement arms – Homeland Security Investigations special agents who investigate transnational crime, and Enforcement and Removal Operations officers who arrest and remove individuals found to be in the country illegally.
The agency conducted pilot programs with HSI agents in New York, Newark, El Paso, and Houston, as well as with ERO deportation officers in Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Salt Lake City. The goal is to eventually expand the use of body cameras nationwide, but Lechleitner noted that additional funding from Congress would be needed to expand beyond the initial five cities.
The policy outlines when body-worn cameras will be used, including during the execution of pre-planned arrest warrants, removal orders, or in response to violent disturbances at ICE facilities. The agency emphasized that the cameras will not be used to record individuals engaged in activities protected by the First Amendment.
The implementation of body-worn cameras is seen as a step towards increasing transparency and accountability within ICE, as well as fostering public trust in the agency’s law enforcement officials.
