WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will employ body cameras for thousands of Border Patrol agents starting this summer, Reuters reported today.
“As the administration continues to strike the balance between a secure border and treating immigrants with compassion, this is a positive step,” said Ali Noorani, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. “Body-worn cameras protect CBP agents and migrants alike.”
The Forum has called for the use of body-worn cameras by CBP agents as part of a comprehensive response to increases in migration at the southern border that includes creating more orderly, efficient and humane processing sytems; addressing root causes of migration; and implementing practical border-security measures.
The cameras themselves can increase transparency, decrease the number of complaints and assaults against officers, enhance public trust and can help resolve disputes over misconduct, the authors of a 2015 Forum paper found.
“Body-worn cameras will promote security, transparency and accountability for CBP officers during a challenging time at the border,” Noorani continued. “This is an important change that was long overdue. Cameras will help officers as they respond to migrants, work to protect the public and facilitate cross-border trade and movement.”