US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has rejected a congressional watchdog's recommendation to automatically activate agents' body cameras when they draw their weapons, putting the agency at odds with a push for stronger accountability as questions persist over when federal immigration officers record their encounters with the public.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, argued that automatic recording could capture sensitive interactions with informants and victims or inadvertently film bystanders exercising their First Amendment rights. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), however, said automated activation could help ensure officers record unexpected use-of-force incidents, improving transparency, accountability, and public trust.
