Thompson, Correa, Thanedar Release Government Report on Problems with DHS Body Camera Program
Legislation to Be Introduced to Address ICE’s Refusal of Automatic Camera Activation
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Democratic Members of the House Committee on Homeland Security announced the release of a U.S. Government Accountability Office report they requested on the Department of Homeland Security’s Body-Worn Camera program for its immigration officers and agents. Recent tragic shootings have shown that not only do these cameras need to be deployed, they need to be activated with proper controls.
In the report, entitled “Federal Law Enforcement: CBP and ICE Should Improve Body-Worn Camera Program Management,” the GAO found while DHS has rushed deploying body-worn cameras, both CBP and ICE lack updated program plans, results oriented performance measures, and sufficient controls to ensure cameras are activated and used consistently. GAO concludes that these gaps limit DHS’s ability to achieve the core objectives of the program—transparency, accountability, and strengthened public trust.
GAO also found that ICE, unlike CBP, relies on manual camera activation and that the absence of automated controls – which GAO recommends – puts ICE at greater risk of missing critical recordings.
“With shootings by DHS officers on the rise, the American people – and Congress – have rightfully demanded DHS use body-worn cameras when its officers are out in the field. However, this government report shows that DHS’s body-worn camera program is deficient and needs to be revamped if DHS is going to be transparent and accountable,” said Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security. “Worse yet, ICE – which has shown time and again it thinks it is immune to accountability – is unwilling to implement automatic activation for its cameras, increasing the risk of missing critical recordings, just like what happened when Wilber Garces Perez was shot by an ICE agent in Austin last month. This is completely unacceptable and I will be introducing legislation in the coming days to close this gap and ensure all DHS body-worn cameras have the recommended automatic activation.”
"Since January, federal immigration agents have shot at least 25 people. Six are dead, three of them American citizens. These are not just numbers – they are real lives lost, and the public deserves transparency and accountability from DHS,” added Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Border Security and Enforcement subcommittee. “DHS has been turned into a tool for political ends, and that has to stop. This report confirms the DHS body-camera program is lacking, even though the department has had more than enough time to get it right. Transparency and accountability aren't optional."
“ICE is violently terrorizing Americans left and right. To help with transparency and accountability, they need to have body cameras that are automatically activated. This latest GAO report shows DHS's current body camera program is unacceptable, plagued with old plans and no performance goals,” added Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability subcommittee. “DHS must reverse course immediately and implement additional automatic activation controls for body cameras as well as issue transparent operations guidance for this program. DHS's continued attempts to avoid accountability for their horrific actions are unacceptable, and I will continue to work with my Homeland Security Committee colleagues to hold this department accountable.”
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