ICE and CBP Body Camera Accountability Act

Bill: 117-hr-531
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Introduced: 2021-01-28
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Border security and unlawful immigration

Civil actions and liability

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Department of Homeland Security

Employee performance

Evidence and witnesses

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Immigration status and procedures

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Photography and imaging
Latest action: action_date: 2021-01-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>ICE and CBP Body Camera Accountability Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers to wear body cameras when engaged in official operations.</p> <p>Such agents and officers shall turn on their cameras for the duration of each shift. The footage shall be available to each party in any administrative proceeding, civil action, or criminal proceeding where such footage is pertinent. </p> <p>An agent or officer whose camera does not record footage during a shift shall be subject to furlough, reduction in pay or grade, or suspension. When a camera does not record during a shift, the Department of Homeland Security may not determine that the camera malfunctioned unless the agent or officer submits evidence to establish that a malfunction occurred.</p> <p>ICE and CBP shall establish policies and procedures regarding use of the cameras and for carrying out adverse actions related to a failure to record footage.<br> </p> <p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 531 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2021 Mr. Espaillat (for himself, Mr. Beyer , Ms. Bonamici , Mr. García of Illinois , and Ms. Jayapal ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require agents and officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to wear body cameras, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ICE and CBP Body Camera Accountability Act . 2. Use of body cameras by agents and officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (a) In general Not later than the date that the rule under subsection (e) is finalized, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall ensure that agents and officers of ICE and CBP, as the case may be, wear body cameras when such agents and officers are engaged in official operations. (b) Implementation To carry out this section, the Director of ICE and the Commissioner of CBP shall establish— (1) policies, procedures, and best practices for the use of body cameras by agents and officers of ICE and CBP, including training relating to the use of such cameras; and (2) policies and procedures for carrying out adverse actions under subsection (f). (c) Always-On Body cameras worn by agents and officers of ICE and CBP shall be turned on at the beginning of the shift of such agents and officers and shall remain on for the duration of such shifts. (d) Availability of body camera footage Footage collected by such a body camera shall be made available to each party to any administrative proceeding, civil action, or criminal prosecution to which such footage pertains in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary of Homeland Security shall by rule require under subsection (e). If such footage is not made available, such a party may notify the Director of ICE or the Commissioner of CBP, as the case may be, in writing for purposes of instigating an adverse action described in subsection (f). (e) Rulemaking Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall commence a rulemaking regarding the use of body cameras and the provision of footage in accordance with subsection (d) that is consistent with the Civil Rights Principles for Body Worn Cameras of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, May 2015. The proposed rule shall include a comparison with the American Civil Liberties Union's January 2017 Model Act for Regulating the Use of Wearable Body Cameras by Law Enforcement and An Act Relative to Body-Worn Cameras for Law Enforcement Officers, 2016 N.H. Legis. Serv. 322 (codified at N.H. REV. STAT. ANN. § 105–D (2016)). (f) Adverse actions for absence of body camera footage An agent or officer of ICE or CBP whose body camera does not record footage because of a violation of subsection (c) shall be subject to furlough, reduction in pay or grade, or a suspension of up to 30 days under subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, as the Director of ICE or the Commissioner of CBP (as the case may be) determines appropriate. If a body camera does not record at a time when the camera is required to be active, the Secretary of Homeland Security may not determine that the camera suffered a malfunction unless the agent or officer submits evidence sufficient to establish that a malfunction occurred. (g) Prohibition on new funding No additional funding is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. This Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise made available for such purposes.