ICE has issued new guidance permitting officers to resume traffic stops, provided at least one officer involved is equipped with a body‑camera.
Officers who do not have access to body‑camera equipment are prohibited from conducting traffic stops under the new directive.
The rollout of body‑camera devices began in the agency’s largest cities and has not yet reached every field office.
Officials estimate that completing the rollout will require roughly two more months, which will continue to limit the number of ICE traffic stops nationwide.
Agency officials affirm that each arrest team will include an officer wearing a body camera, emphasizing that full deployment is a top priority.
The statement highlights a dramatic rise in assaults on law‑enforcement personnel, noting increases of more than 1,300 percent in assaults and 3,300 percent in vehicle attacks.
Procurement and distribution of body‑worn cameras experienced delays due to recent government shutdowns, yet more than half of the field offices have already received the equipment.
The remaining field offices are expected to be equipped within the next 60 days, after which traffic stops can be conducted without restriction.
