US rejects recommendation for ICE body cams to be automatically activated

The Trump administration has rejected a recommendation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that US immigration officials should use technology to automatically activate body-worn cameras when an officer pulls their weapon or sets off a car's siren. This recommendation was one of several outlined in a report released by the independent nonpartisan watchdog agency on Wednesday.

The GAO report came in response to scrutiny over immigration enforcement tactics, particularly following the fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis. These shootings raised questions about the accountability of officers involved. The GAO suggested that both the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) should improve their body-worn camera program management.

They specifically recommended that ICE implement additional controls, such as automatic camera activation, to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and public trust.

However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes ICE, disagreed with the GAO's recommendation. DHS cited privacy and operational risks, stating that automatic activation could lead to inadvertent or false activations during routine movements. This could result in the unauthorised recording of sensitive interactions with informants, victims, or bystanders engaged in free speech activities, particularly in areas where camera usage is restricted.

Despite the GAO's findings, ICE has acquired body-worn camera devices for all of its officers and agents. Training to equip these officers remains ongoing, with the department expecting to complete this training soon.