ICE will only release body camera video when in agency's 'best interests,' policy says
Summary
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will provide body cameras to officers by the end of September but controls when footage is released to the public. The agency’s policy states videos will be shared only if it benefits ICE, giving the agency broad authority to withhold or delay recordings, especially after serious incidents like shootings.Key Facts
- ICE plans to equip all field officers with body cameras within two months.
- The policy requires cameras be turned on during arrests, searches, and emergencies.
- Video of shootings or serious injuries can be released within 72 hours if it is deemed in ICE’s "best interests."
- ICE’s director has the power to delay or block video release for unspecified reasons.
- Officers’ faces, names, and badge numbers will be blurred in released videos to protect privacy.
- The policy contrasts with some local police who release footage more openly, such as in Chicago.
- Experts say ICE’s policy allows the agency to control its public image by selectively releasing videos.
- Similar agencies, like Customs and Border Protection, have also withheld footage from public view after shootings.
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