DHS Mandates Body Cameras for All Field Agents Nationwide, Starting with Minneapolis

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security will equip every one of its frontline officers — including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — with body-worn cameras, Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday, marking a significant nationwide push for transparency within the department's law enforcement branches.

In a post on the social media platform X, Noem stated the rollout begins immediately in Minneapolis, where DHS operations have faced intense public and legal scrutiny. The program will then expand across the country "as funding becomes available," she added.

"We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country," Noem wrote, framing the move as a step toward accountability and modernized policing.

The announcement revives and expands a federal body camera directive first issued under President Joe Biden's 2022 executive order on policing reform, which had been rescinded early in former President Donald Trump's second term. Minneapolis has recently been a flashpoint for allegations of aggressive immigration enforcement, prompting renewed calls from advocacy groups and lawmakers for recorded oversight of DHS interactions with the public.

While the policy is positioned as a broad transparency measure, observers note its particular relevance to ICE, whose enforcement actions often occur out of public view. The move could preempt further legislative mandates and potentially defuse criticism of DHS operations in sensitive jurisdictions.

Voices from the Community

Maria Chen, immigration attorney at the Heartland Rights Project: "This is a long-overdue step. Camera footage can be a critical tool for accountability, but only if there are strong, clear policies ensuring the footage is preserved and accessible — not just for internal review, but for the public and affected families."

David Porter, retired police captain and security consultant: "From an operational standpoint, body cams protect officers as much as the public. For DHS, this could reduce frivolous complaints and provide clearer evidence in complex enforcement situations. The key will be consistent training and protocol."

Rebecca Vance, activist with "Watchdog MN": "This feels like a PR stunt to quiet critics after years of documented abuses. Cameras are useless without independent oversight. Who reviews the footage? Who decides when they're 'malfunctioning'? We've seen this playbook before — it's optics, not real accountability."

Professor Arjun Patel, criminal justice policy at Great Lakes University: "The Minneapolis-first rollout is strategically significant. It directly addresses a high-profile pressure point while testing implementation logistics. If deployment here is seen as successful, it will build momentum for national adoption and likely influence congressional funding discussions."