US immigration agency will finish body camera rollout this month, ICE leader says

US immigration agency will finish body camera rollout this month, ICE leader says

Aug 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will complete its rollout of body cameras to officers and agents by the end of the month, Acting Director David Venturella said on Saturday.

- ICE will equip every officer and agent in the field with body-worn cameras by the end of August, ahead of the agency's original schedule, Venturella said in a statement.

- Agency policy permits expedited footage release when appropriate after a serious injury or death of someone in custody, he said. But the agency can withhold footage if it could compromise investigations or privacy, Venturella said.

- After the killings of two U.S. citizens during an immigration crackdown in Minnesota, then-U.S. Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem said ICE's body camera program would be rolled out nationwide "as funding is available."

- Fatal shootings last month at traffic stops in Maine and Texas sparked protests and raised questions over ICE agents' lack of body cameras.

- Trump administration border czar Tom Homan subsequently said ICE officers will be required to record vehicle stops with at least one body camera.