Trust Through Transparency Act of 2025

Body cameras for immigration officers

This bill would require covered immigration officers to wear and operate body‑worn audio and video cameras during any public immigration enforcement function. Covered officers would include CBP and ICE employees and any deputized or designated persons. It would define public enforcement (patrols, stops, arrests, searches, status interviews, raids, checkpoint inspections, and serving warrants) and exclude undercover or covert operations. ICE would keep video for six months by default and then permanently delete it unless it shows use of force, events around an arrest, or an encounter with a registered complaint. Footage could be kept at least three years if requested by eligible people who reasonably assert evidentiary, exculpatory, or training value (for example, the recording officer, a subject officer, a supervisor, a person in the video, a minor's parent or guardian, or a deceased person's next of kin). The Secretary of Homeland Security would have to discipline officers who fail to comply, consistent with agency policy and any collective bargaining agreements. The Secretary would also report to Congress not later than one year after enactment and annually after, listing total public enforcement functions, documented noncompliance, and a summary of disciplinary actions. DHS would post the report on its website within 30 days, and the Inspector General could redact sensitive information if the IG explains the redactions. The Secretary would set up an independent advisory panel of civil rights, privacy, technology, and law enforcement oversight experts to give non‑binding recommendations on camera and footage policies.