U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it expects to equip every field officer with body cameras by the end of August. This move is expected to provide an unprecedented visual record of the federal government’s immigration enforcement operations.

Body Camera Policy

ICE defended its body-worn camera policy, which allows the agency to withhold or delay footage after serious injuries or deaths in custody. Acting Director David J. Venturella stated that the restrictions are intended to protect investigations and privacy, and are consistent with federal law and policies at other federal law enforcement agencies.

Venturella’s statement came in response to an Associated Press report on ICE’s policy, which included a provision calling for the expedited release of footage after a serious injury or death in custody when it is in the agency’s ‘best interests.’ Venturella claimed that the AP ‘mischaracterized’ the policy by conflating that provision with ICE’s broader authority to release body-camera footage.

The AP report focused on ICE’s policy for releasing footage after serious incidents, including those involving deaths. ICE has been under scrutiny since the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old motorist in Maine by an ICE officer with a history of violent behavior. Neither of the recent shootings was recorded with body cameras.

Transparency and Accountability

Venturella stated that ICE is ‘committed to transparency and accountability’ and is on track to equip every officer and agent in the field with body-worn cameras by the end of August. However, whether the public will get to see the footage remains largely up to ICE, as the agency has the authority to withhold or delay its release.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.