The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not yet completed its plan to equip all federal immigration agents with body-worn cameras, nearly six months after pledging to do so following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Recent incidents in Texas and Maine involving the fatal shooting of two individuals by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents occurred without body camera footage, according to the agency.
DHS officials attributed the delay to funding issues and previous government shutdowns. White House Border Czar Tom Homan stated that while hundreds of cameras were deployed to Minnesota, the agency lacked the funds to outfit every agent nationwide. Congress recently allocated $31 billion for technology, including cameras, though the legislation did not include a specific mandate for their use.
Advocacy groups and some lawmakers have called for swifter implementation, arguing the cameras provide essential accountability and evidence during use-of-force investigations. Critics, including the Cato Institute, questioned the agency's priorities, suggesting DHS has discretionary funds available for the equipment.
DHS stated that half of its field offices currently utilize body cameras. The agency expects the remaining offices to receive the equipment within 60 days. Officials emphasized that the cameras are a priority to protect officers from attacks and to address what the agency characterized as public misinformation.