politics
ICE Officers Resume Traffic Stops With Body Camera Requirement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers received new guidance Thursday allowing traffic stops only when at least one participating officer wears a body camera. White House and DHS officials confirmed the policy change and outlined a 60-day timeline for full rollout.
Jul 16, 3:11 PM·1m read1 source
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were told Thursday they can resume traffic stops only when at least one officer involved wears a body camera, Fox News reported. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said more than half of ICE field offices now have body cameras and a nationwide rollout is expected within 60 days.
She added that President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin agree traffic stops remain a necessary tool. "Vehicle stops are a necessary tool that ICE agents need in order to continue their deportation campaign of the worst of the worst illegal alien criminals from our country," Leavitt said.
A DHS spokesperson said ICE will ensure each arrest team has an individual wearing a body camera.
The spokesperson cited a more than 1,300 percent increase in assaults against ICE officers and a 3,300 percent increase in vehicle attacks. The spokesperson said the rollout of body cameras to all field offices was interrupted by multiple government shutdowns under Democrats. Body cameras have been deployed to more than half the offices, with the rest expected in less than 60 days.
Leavitt attributed the slower rollout to Democrats shutting down DHS for several weeks. Officers without body cameras are not authorized to conduct traffic stops until the equipment arrives. ICE arrested a record 238 illegal immigrants in one day during a South Texas enforcement operation.
