H.R. 1497 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1497 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 10, 2017Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Hastings, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Lee, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Bass, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Evans, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Soto, and Ms. Kelly of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require all deportation officers of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to wear body cameras when engaged in field operations and removal proceedings, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ICE Body Camera Act of 2017. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Body cameras employed in police actions have led to increases in public trust and decreases in police violence. (2) Employing body cameras in police actions makes enforcement actions safer for law enforcement officers and members of the general public alike while restoring trust and accountability in the process. 3. Use of body cameras by certain ICE officers (a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shall ensure that all deportation officers of Enforcement and Removal Operations of ICE wear body cameras when such officers are engaged in field operations or removal proceedings. (b) Implementation To carry out subsection (a), the Director of ICE shall, not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act— (1) establish policies and procedures for when deportation officers of Enforcement and Removal Operations of ICE should wear, activate, and deactivate body cameras; (2) develop standards for the effective placement of such cameras; (3) publish and implement best practices for receiving and storing accurate recordings from such cameras; (4) establish guidelines and training for such officers on the proper management and use of such cameras; and (5) establish policies for the availability of such recordings to the subjects of removal proceedings, victims of crime, internal use by law enforcement officials, and the general public. 4. Recordings to be provided to certain persons A recording made by a body camera worn by a deportation officer during an enforcement action shall be provided, in the case of any administrative proceeding (including a removal proceeding), civil action, or criminal prosecution to which such recording pertains, to each party to the proceeding, action, or prosecution. 5. Withholding of certain funds Any funds necessary to purchase, store, use, or maintain body cameras described in this Act shall be derived from funds made available to purchase new weapons for ICE officials.