Amid rising calls for via Democrats to overtake U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after federal immigration officers killed two U.S. electorate in Minnesota, Secretary of Place of birth Safety Kristi Noem mentioned in early February 2026 that brokers in Minneapolis will likely be issued body-worn cameras.
However can physique cameras on federal officers give you the transparency and responsibility the general public is difficult from brokers with ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Coverage?
As a public coverage student, I’ve analyzed the prevailing body-worn digital camera coverage for ICE brokers. And I’ve in comparison this coverage to dozens of different state and native physique digital camera insurance policies, with the intention to examine the rationales for his or her use.
Whether or not ICE’s physique digital camera coverage may give transparency and responsibility relies, I consider, at the coverage itself and the enforcement of that coverage. ICE’s use of physique cameras may just fortify the company’s legitimacy within the eyes of the general public.
However as I’ve noticed with different police physique digital camera insurance policies, there’s a chance that digital camera pictures might difficult to understand precise occasions. It’s additionally imaginable that the strategic unlock of pictures might undermine transparency.
More than a few physique digital camera insurance policies
Police physique cameras had been first utilized in the USA in 2012 via the Rialto Police Division in California. By way of 2020, their use had expanded to over 62% of native regulation enforcement businesses, overlaying 79% of native law enforcement officials national.
That enlargement was once, partly, a reaction to rising grievance over stop-and-frisk techniques – through which police quickly detain folks for guns searches when a criminal offense is suspected – and police-involved shootings of folks of colour.
Frame digital camera insurance policies range a great deal between municipalities. Some insurance policies make physique cameras helpful responsibility equipment, like the ones of Parker, Colorado, which makes use of cameras for proof assortment and making sure officer adherence to coverage somewhat than as surveillance era.
Others, in the meantime, supply huge discretion for officials to select when to turn on their physique cameras, similar to Colorado Springs’ coverage. Permitting officials to come to a decision when to make use of their cameras can prohibit the provision of proof.
I consider there are 4 an important components of a physique digital camera coverage that may make sure that ICE brokers correctly use the era.
Activation necessities
Frame digital camera high quality has progressed during the last decade. However the battery lifetime of many fashions prevents steady recording all through a 10-hour shift.
As an alternative, cops incessantly manually turn on their physique cameras. Thus, to successfully advertise responsibility, a powerful coverage will require ICE brokers to turn on their physique cameras sooner than they have interaction with the general public.
Folks attend a vigil for Alex Pretti, who was once fatally shot via a federal immigration agent on Feb. 1, 2026, in Minneapolis.
AP Picture/Ryan Murphy
A 2016 find out about discovered that, with out necessary camera-activation insurance policies, officials incessantly fail to turn on their cameras.
The present ICE body-worn digital camera coverage, issued in February 2025, lists enforcement actions that require recording. They come with executing arrest warrants, frisks of people and “responding to public, unlawful/violent disturbances at ICE facilities.”
However the checklist does now not come with necessary activation all the way through automobile interests or the transportation of folks to detention amenities. Recording inside of detention amenities is precisely prohibited via the coverage.
Deactivation necessities
As proposed via the Police Government Analysis Discussion board, a nonprofit that promotes policing professionalism, physique cameras will have to proceed to report till an come upon with a member of the general public has concluded and brokers have left the scene.
The present ICE body-worn digital camera coverage states that brokers “should only deactivate the BWC when the scene is secure as determined by the supervisor or team leader.”
Whilst tough insurance policies, similar to that of the Chicago Police Division, require persevered recording all the way through the transportation of detained folks, the ICE physique digital camera coverage does now not. This creates the possibility of important moments to head unrecorded.
Facial popularity
Many physique digital camera fashions come provided with facial popularity era. However many native police division insurance policies restrict its use because of privateness and surveillance considerations.
ICE makes use of facial popularity era all the way through immigration enforcement operations, however in 2020 lawmakers raised considerations that physique digital camera facial popularity may just dissuade electorate from protesting out of worry of retribution.
Folks accumulate out of doors Akron Town Corridor in Ohio on July 3, 2022, to protest after the discharge of physique digital camera pictures confirmed police fatally capturing Jayland Walker with a number of dozen rounds of bullets.
Matthew Hatcher/AFP by the use of Getty Photographs
As protests in opposition to ICE immigration enforcement proceed, it’s recognized that the company makes use of facial popularity era on non violent protesters and observers. Present ICE coverage prevents the usage of facial popularity on “live BWC recordings,” that means whilst the interplay is going down. Facial popularity is authorized on physique digital camera pictures after the interplay has concluded.
In early February 2026, Democratic lawmakers presented a measure that will restrict the usage of facial popularity via ICE and CBP brokers. That ban would lengthen to facial popularity options on physique cameras.
Coverage compliance
Coverage is handiest as sturdy as its enforcement.
Policymakers may just imagine strengthening submission bureaucracy for ICE use-of-force and civil rights violation proceedings.
Thorough investigation of proceedings and critiques of physique digital camera pictures might be treated via an exterior evaluate board. The Place of job of the Inspector Basic, accountable for investigating allegations of over the top pressure via ICE brokers, may just additionally behavior critiques.
Frame cameras won’t deter violence dedicated via ICE brokers except insurance policies obviously dictate their use. For physique cameras to serve as as transparency and responsibility equipment, I consider wrongdoing would must be all of a sudden and constantly penalized. This might spotlight the effects of noncompliance with body-worn digital camera insurance policies.
