Since last week, two immigrants driving in Texas and Maine were fatally shot by immigration officers who did not wear body cameras. In response to the incidents, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and other lawmakers called on DHS to deploy body cameras as soon as possible. The Trump administration listened to their pleas.About half of all ICE field offices will get body cameras within the next 60 days, the department said. The remaining half of the field offices already have the devices. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the news on Thursday.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vowed to roll out body cameras for ICE officers’ use earlier this year after Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens, were killed in Minnesota. The promise is just now being fulfilled under the leadership of Secretary Markwayne Mullin.White House border czar Tom Homan previously said “hundreds” of body cameras were initially purchased and sent to Minnesota, but he “was waiting up for more money” to equip ICE officers with cameras.DHS blamed the Democrat-led government shutdowns for stalling the funding needed to purchase more body cameras. The department said issuing the cameras is a “top priority” as attacks against ICE officers continue to increase.At the height of such violence in January, DHS reported a 3,300% surge in vehicular attacks and a 1,300% rise in assaults against immigration personnel. The department blamed the Democratic leaders of sanctuary cities and their rhetoric for the spikes in violence.In the recent ICE-involved shootings, the two now-deceased victims allegedly weaponized their vehicles, according to DHS, prompting ICE officers to fire gunshots in self-defense.Following the fatal shootings, ICE began halting all vehicle stops on Tuesday. But after President Donald Trump urged the agency to resume traffic stops the following day, there appeared to be a swift change in policy.By Thursday, the White House confirmed the tactic for apprehending illegal immigrants was back on the table.ICE SITS FROZEN AMID TRUMP-MULLIN TRAFFIC STOP DEBACLE“Vehicle stops are continuing. Verbal guidance has been given to all field offices across the country by the Department of Homeland Security,” Leavitt told reporters at her first press briefing since returning from maternity leave. She noted Trump and Mullin “are on the same page” regarding the resumption of vehicle stops.At least one ICE officer must be wearing a body camera in order to conduct a traffic stop, according to reports. Otherwise, ICE units are not allowed to stop any vehicles driven by suspected illegal immigrants.
