DHS to Equip Minneapolis Immigration Agents with Body Cameras Following Fatal Shootings, Noem Announces

In a move aimed at increasing transparency and accountability, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) field officers in Minneapolis will be equipped with body-worn cameras. The decision comes amid intense scrutiny and public outcry following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in the city earlier this year.

"Effective immediately, we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis," Noem stated in a post on the social media platform X. She framed the initiative as a critical step toward public trust, adding, "As funding is available, the body camera program will be expanded nationwide. We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country."

The announcement follows two incidents that have put Noem and federal immigration enforcement agencies under a harsh spotlight. On January 7, ICE officer-involved shooting resulted in the death of Renee Good. Weeks later, on January 24, federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti. In both cases, bystander video footage appeared to contradict initial official statements about the circumstances, fueling demands for greater oversight and fueling protests in Minneapolis.

A DHS spokeswoman confirmed last week that body-camera footage exists from the Pretti shooting, recorded by cameras worn by multiple Homeland Security Investigations agents. In the Good case, the involved officer recorded a portion of the encounter on a personal cellphone.

Analysts see this rollout as a reactive measure to a burgeoning crisis of confidence. The Minneapolis "surge" operations, intended to ramp up immigration enforcement, have instead drawn fierce criticism over use-of-force protocols and agent accountability. The localized pilot program suggests the department is attempting to address specific, high-profile failures before implementing a broader policy.

Voices from the Community

Marcus Chen, Policy Analyst at the Center for Policing Equity: "While the adoption of body cameras is a standard best practice, its reactive implementation after tragedy is telling. The real test will be in the policy governing their use—footage must be accessible, and there must be clear consequences for violations. This cannot be merely a public relations tool."

Elena Rodriguez, Minneapolis Community Organizer: "This is too little, too late for Renee and Alex. Cameras document injustice; they don't prevent it. We've seen the footage, and we've seen the statements that didn't match. Why should we trust the same system to now police itself with its own cameras? This feels like an attempt to placate us without real structural change."

David Finley, Retired Deputy Sheriff: "As a former law enforcement officer, I see this as a necessary and positive step. Body cameras protect good officers from false accusations and provide irrefutable evidence in investigations. Starting in a high-pressure jurisdiction like Minneapolis is a logical first phase before a costly national rollout."

Priya Sharma, Law Professor specializing in Civil Rights: "The legal and community impact hinges on transparency. If the footage is routinely disclosed and audits are independent, this could be a meaningful reform. If it's shielded from public view, it will only deepen the existing distrust between immigration authorities and the communities they operate in."

This report includes information originally published by NBC News.