Federal Law Enforcement: CBP and ICE Should Improve Body-Worn Camera Program Management

Both Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel use body-worn cameras to record interactions with the public. CBP began issuing cameras in fiscal year 2021, and ICE began in fiscal year 2024.

But neither agency has updated initial plans for the body-worn camera programs to reflect changes in camera deployment. They also haven’t developed guidance for most program offices on how to use the cameras.

Our recommendations address these and other issues.

Torso of a man in a tan uniform shirt and utility belt, with a hand on a holstered gun, wearing a small black rectangular object in the center of his chest.

Body-worn cameras provide law enforcement personnel with the capability to record interactions with the public. When initiating their body-worn camera programs, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) each developed a plan that included key components of a comprehensive program management plan. However, CBP and ICE have not updated their program plans since 2022 and 2024, respectively. They have therefore not taken into account significant changes in the program, such as increases in the number of cameras scheduled for deployment and a 2025 pause in further camera deployment.

CBP and ICE have stated desired results for their programs, including enhancing officer safety, transparency, accountability, and public trust. Although CBP and ICE implemented some measures to track information about camera availability and reliability, they have not implemented results-oriented performance goals and measures. Doing so would help them assess the results of their body-worn camera programs. For example, potential goals and measures might involve use of footage in use of force investigations.