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Every ICE arrest team will now have an agent with a body camera, DHS says

From CBS News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest teams will be equipped with body cameras by July 15, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security announced.
  • The mandate follows two fatal shootings by agents not wearing cameras, with DHS citing increased assaults on agents and media smears.
  • The rollout faced delays due to funding lapses during a government shutdown, though Congress approved additional funds in April.

The Department of Homeland Security has mandated that every U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest team will include at least one officer with a body-worn camera by July 15, 2026. This decision follows two recent fatal shootings by ICE agents who were not equipped with cameras.

Ensuring all of our ICE law enforcement officers have body cameras nationwide is a top priority for DHS.

โ€” Department of Homeland SecurityIn a statement announcing the body camera mandate.

DHS stated that equipping all ICE law enforcement officers nationwide with body cameras is a "top priority," also pointing to a rise in assaults against immigration agents. The department criticized what it called "smears" by the media and "sanctuary politicians."

This is especially needed because the media and sanctuary politicians consistently spread smears about our law enforcement.

โ€” Department of Homeland SecurityIn a statement explaining the need for body cameras.

The agency attributed previous delays in the camera rollout to a funding lapse during a government shutdown earlier this year. Congress had approved $20 million for DHS body cameras in April. Democratic lawmakers, however, have criticized the slow deployment, with Rep. Sylvia Garcia noting assurances that all agents would have access by the end of July.

The officers in Houston had not been issued body-worn cameras due to back-to-back Democrat shutdowns.

โ€” DHS spokespersonBlaming incomplete rollout on government shutdown.

The recent shootings in Houston and Maine, where the men shot were not the intended targets of ICE operations, have intensified scrutiny of the agency's practices. In both incidents, the individuals were in the U.S. illegally and were shot during attempted vehicle stops. DHS has accused one man of weaponizing his vehicle, a claim disputed by his family.

Trust me, I will hold him to it.

โ€” Rep. Sylvia GarciaExpressing determination to ensure ICE agents have body cameras by the end of July.
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Originally published by CBS News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.