ICE will release body camera video only when in agency's 'best interests'
ICE will release body cam video only when seen in the agency's 'best interests'
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a new policy stating that it will release body camera footage only when doing so serves the agency's 'best interests.' The policy, which was announced on Friday, outlines criteria for releasing video, including incidents involving serious injury or death, and requires approval from senior officials. Critics argue the policy lacks transparency and accountability, while ICE maintains it balances safety and privacy concerns.
The policy says the agency will release video only when it is in the 'best interests' of ICE, a standard that critics say is too vague and gives the agency too much discretion.
- AnEro
I've personally completely avoided the USA because of ICE, not because of principle of border policies purely from unpredictable treatment of people in custody with no recorse. Even if mistreatment are edge cases I've got no faith in the system to correct the wrong within itself. I've seen too many stories of legal americans and travelers not even getting bare minimum due process, or just being locked away for days no contact. I present and am read as a woman, if I get sent to male holding facility I'm just chum in the water. Which that decision could be made completely at the whim of the officer and the areas commanding officer, regardless of local laws.
- pbnjeh
Jail, jail, jail. Nothing less will stop these Gestapo-esque thugs.
And if you’re waiting for the mid-terms, you’re already acquiescing to their plans.
Also, it says something — to me, at least — that I have to think seriously before posting this. All I’m calling for is timely criminal prosecution of what I think and believe are crimes. I.e. for a lawful process. Yet doing so puts me at risk of an overbearing, unaccountable response?
This is some serious sh-t.
- MertsA
How does this square with FOIA obligations? I get ICE sidestepping transparency by avoiding creating the responsive footage in the first place, but once the body cam footage exists, what basis could they use to withhold it other than redacting footage for the typical reasons?
- xyzelement
What I got from reading the article - but not the headline or the comments.
- ICE is moving to start using cameras (currently not using them) so this move overall increases the amount of footage that exists and can be released.
- Their stayed approach is analogous to other law enforcement approaches already in use.
So the headline should be "ICE to start using body cameras". I suspect this is in general good news for ICE - most police departments that once felt "forced" to use body cameras have found that the cameras have been good for their image. Incidents that could have previously been trumpeted as an unjustified police action now have the context of what the suspect was doing just prior that justify the action. I think ICE is betting on the same and the "look what our agents have to deal with" footage may get public airplay into their favor.
We'll see
- cdrnsf
So, presumably, not when they murder unarmed civilians in broad daylight? Or deploy chemical weapons around schools?