Council Statement of CBP's Body-Camera Policy Announcement

Washington D.C. – Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council, responded to the announcement that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) staff will expand the agency’s camera review with the following statement:

"Today's decision to not broadly implement body-worn cameras is a significant step backwards for CBP. For an agency that has significant problems with transparency and accountability, the excuses provided to not move forward in a bold and comprehensive way will only deepen that perception. CBP is the largest law enforcement agency in the country, and it seems they are out of step with other agencies that are moving forward to implement body cameras in an effort to protect both officers and those they serve.

“The first phases of CBP’s assessment of cameras were focused on body-worn cameras and had clear start and end dates. Today’s announcement has no timeline for moving forward, and it attempts to shift the focus away from body-worn cameras to looking at “mobile,” “fixed,” and “maritime cameras” along with body-worn cameras. This appears to be nothing more than an attempt by Customs and Border Protection to run down the clock on this administration and pass the buck.”

To view other resources on publications related to CBP policies and activities see:

• Report: CBP Must Implement Body-Worn Cameras (ImmigrationImpact.com Blog, 11/9/2015)
• No Action Taken: Lack of Accountability In Responding to Complaints of Abuse (American Immigration Council Report, May 2014)

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For more information, contact Wendy Feliz at [email protected] or 202-507-7524