Immigration Enforcement Staff Body Camera Accountability Act

The Immigration Enforcement Staff Body Camera Accountability Act would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including staff at immigration detention facilities, to wear body cameras whenever they are engaged in official operations. The bill directs ICE and CBP to establish policies, training, and best practices for body cameras and for the use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition in relation to the footage, while emphasizing awareness of AI/facial recognition limitations. Cameras would be "always on" during shifts, and footage would generally be available to parties in related administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings. The bill also contemplates a federal rulemaking process to implement these provisions, creates disciplinary mechanisms for failing to record footage, requires annual privacy-impact assessments by DHS’s Inspector General, and prohibits new funding for these provisions (to be funded with existing resources). Coverage includes CBP, ICE, and detention facility staff who interact with detainees. Overall, the bill aims to increase transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement by mandating continuous body camera use, guiding how footage can be used and reviewed (including with AI tools), and establishing oversight and discipline related to footage practices. It signals a strong emphasis on privacy protections and civil rights considerations in the implementation process.