The One Reform DHS Refused: Why ICE Has Never Disciplined an Agent for Not Turning On a Body Camera

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 18: A Los Angeles police officer wear an AXON body camera during the Immigrants Make America Great March to protest actions being taken by the Trump administration on February 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Protesters are calling for an end to stepped up ICE raids and deportations, and that health care be provided for documented and undocumented people. (Credit: Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

The Briefing

• The Government Accountability Office released its findings on October 14, urging ICE to adopt automatic body camera activation when agents draw firearms or engage emergency lights — DHS rejected it as the lone dissent out of seven recommendations.
• ICE has recorded no written reprimands for body camera noncompliance since the program launched; Customs and Border Protection, under the same department, has issued just one.
• CBP already uses automatic activation through Axon hardware that ICE also carries, making the gap a matter of policy choice rather than equipment availability.
• Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, announced plans to introduce legislation closing the auto-activation gap after DHS dismissed the watchdog's recommendation.