WASHINGTON, (WINK)—The Department of Homeland Security is making a significant change in its operations.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will now be required to wear body cameras. This move aims to enhance transparency and accountability within federal immigration enforcement.
The announcement followed weeks of scrutiny over federal immigration operations and growing calls for oversight. The initial rollout of body cameras will begin in Minneapolis, with plans to expand nationwide as funding becomes available.
Douglas Molloy, a criminal defense attorney, expressed strong support for the new policy.
"This is a long-overdue plan that law enforcement should follow from this point on," said Molloy.
He further emphasized the need for body cameras in all law enforcement agencies.
"Well, my first reaction was ‘What hell took so long?’ There's literally no reason why they shouldn't have body cams, just like every other law enforcement agency," said Molloy.
However, not everyone agreed with the decision. Hillary Hogue, an advocate for the undocumented, shared her skepticism.
"In all honesty, I didn't pay it much mind, because they're doing this just to appease their voters to say, hey, look, we got the body cams. We didn't have to; everything is transparent, and it's not," said Hogue.
The decision to implement body cameras follows recent incidents involving federal agents and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which sparked public outcry and demands for oversight.
Hogue believes the narrative around protesters needs to change.
"The narrative is everywhere that protesters are terrorists, and we are starting trouble. We are going there to create chaos and mayhem. We're not, and these body cams will show that we are not," said Hogue.
The American Immigration Council also emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety and privacy of vulnerable individuals during interactions with the agency.
Secretary Noem stated that the initial rollout would start in Minneapolis, with plans to expand as funding becomes available.
Molloy reiterated the benefits of body cameras.
"That should be the first thing that they do with any funding they receive. Just think about the advantages of that, again, not just for people that they are coming in contact with, but for them," said Molloy.
While the Department of Homeland Security has not released a timeline for when all ICE agents nationwide will be required to wear body cameras, Secretary Noem expressed intentions to "rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country" in a post on X.
As the policy unfolds, the focus remains on enhancing transparency and accountability within federal immigration enforcement.
