Trump administration official cites Democratic shutdown for delay in ICE body-camera rollout
Homeland Security officials said a recent government shutdown postponed the purchase and deployment of body-worn cameras for ICE agents, despite congressional funding.
White House senior adviser Tom Homan said the Department of Homeland Security’s inability to equip ICE officers with body-worn cameras stemmed from a congressional shutdown that delayed funding approvals. He told reporters that Democrats had blocked a $120 million budget line for the cameras, and that the devices were only ordered after the reconciliation bill passed, with a deployment schedule now in place.
When pressed by CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins about the urgency of the rollout following two recent fatal shootings, Homan replied that the cameras were purchased as soon as funding became available. He reiterated that the shutdown had slowed the process, a point also made by Republican Senator Susan Collins, who said orders could not be placed while the government was closed.
Homeland Security confirmed that officers involved in a recent Houston shooting had not been issued body cameras because of “back-to-back Democrat shutdowns.” The agency noted that Congress appropriated $20 million for the equipment in April, but the shutdown impeded the procurement timeline.
The delay occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of ICE’s use of force, with at least nine deaths linked to immigration enforcement officers since 2017, including two in the past week.