Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
In a significant move, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that federal immigration agents in Minneapolis will now wear body cameras, addressing ongoing concerns over the department's methods following two fatal shootings. "Effective immediately, we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis," Noem stated on the social media platform X, highlighting discussions with senior department officials about this crucial policy change. The initiative aims to boost transparency as the agency has faced backlash over its operations amid ongoing protests against immigration enforcement tactics, particularly after the deaths of protesters Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, according to CBS News and Channel News Asia.
This deployment of body cameras marks an immediate response to bipartisan criticism of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and aims to assure the public of greater accountability among immigration officers. The shootings have spurred Senate Democrats to call for comprehensive reforms, including the mandating of body cameras and the requirement of judicial warrants for arrests. Noem indicated that the body camera program would extend nationwide as funding becomes accessible, aligning with broader reform demands from Congressional Democrats who are currently withholding votes on federal funding until their conditions are met, as reported by AA and Channel News Asia.
The controversy surrounding immigration enforcement in Minneapolis has intensified, particularly after the shootings of two U.S. citizens, prompting local and state officials to demand investigations. President Trump has shown support for the decision, stating that body cameras "generally tend to be good for law enforcement because people can't lie about what's happening." He left the decision on implementation to Noem but acknowledged the positive potential of body cameras, which is echoed in the broader calls for reform within DHS following the recent events in the Twin Cities, according to CBS News and AA.