DHS Rejects GAO Call for Automated ICE Body Cameras

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security rejected a recommendation from the Government Accountability Office to implement automated activation for body-worn cameras used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The GAO report, released Wednesday, argued that cameras triggering automatically when officers draw weapons or activate sirens would increase transparency and public trust following several contentious shootings and aggressive arrests.

DHS countered that such technology could lead to the unauthorized recording of victims, informants, or bystanders exercising free speech. This position stands despite the fact that U.S. Customs and Border Protection already utilizes automatic activation. The GAO warned that without these safeguards, ICE risks losing critical evidence during use-of-force incidents, noting that some officers remain confused about when to activate their devices, particularly during vehicle searches and detainee transports.

The report also highlighted significant management gaps, finding that ICE and Customs and Border Protection failed to update their camera program plans since 2024 and 2022, respectively. While DHS confirmed that all ICE offices received cameras by August 5, the agency admitted that required training for officers is still ongoing. Additionally, the GAO found that ICE issued no written reprimands for policy non-compliance through September 2025. The scrutiny follows high-profile incidents, including the July killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, where involved officers were not wearing cameras.