Trump’s ICE Unveils New Security Measure
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that federal immigration officers operating in Minneapolis will now be required to wear body cameras while conducting field operations.
The new policy applies immediately and affects officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection currently assigned to the area.
Noem said the decision followed direct conversations with senior border and immigration officials, including White House border coordinator Tom Homan. She described the move as a step toward greater transparency and accountability for federal law enforcement.
“As funding becomes available, this body camera program will expand nationwide,” Noem said. “DHS will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to law enforcement personnel across the country.”
The announcement comes as DHS has increased the number of ICE and CBP officers in Minneapolis over the past two months. The surge followed a federal investigation into suspected fraud involving Minnesota social-services programs.
Democrats on Capitol Hill have used recent officer-involved shootings to push for broader changes to immigration enforcement. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer last week tied several proposed reforms to future Homeland Security funding.
Among Schumer’s demands are mandatory body cameras, limits on immigration patrol practices, tighter warrant rules, a universal use-of-force standard, and restrictions on officers wearing masks. Federal law currently does not require ICE or CBP officers to wear body cameras in the field.
Republicans have pushed back on the broader list of conditions but have expressed support for body cameras themselves. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Ron Johnson have both said they see body cameras as a reasonable transparency measure.
“I don’t personally have a problem with that,” Sen. Johnson said during an interview on State of the Union.
The Senate has approved temporary funding to keep several federal agencies operating, including a short-term measure for DHS. The House is expected to vote on the legislation Tuesday.
If passed and signed by Donald Trump, the bill would end a partial government shutdown that began over the weekend.
