DHS Body-Worn Camera Act of 2018
Latest action (2 Oct 2018): Introduced
What this bill does
S. 3538, the DHS Body-Worn Camera Act of 2018, would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish pilot programs testing body-worn cameras for officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The CBP pilot would deploy at least 500 cameras, with half going to Border Patrol agents and half used along the Southwest Border, while the ICE pilot would also deploy at least 500 cameras, half to Enforcement and Removal Operations agents. The bill sets deadlines for implementation and requires detailed reports to Congress afterward covering use-of-force incidents, complaints, privacy issues, and camera effectiveness. It also requires DHS to develop written policies on camera activation, recording storage, privacy protections, public access to footage, and discipline for policy violations, done in consultation with DHS civil rights, privacy, and labor representatives and with public comment.
The bill primarily affects CBP and ICE officers and agents with public-facing law enforcement duties, as well as members of the public who interact with them, including migrants, border crossers, and other individuals encountered during enforcement actions. It would also require DHS to eventually submit plans for permanent, department-wide camera deployment and to begin implementing those plans within set timeframes.
S. 3538 was introduced in the Senate on October 2, 2018, by then-Senator Kamala Harris and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It did not receive a committee vote or further action before the 115th Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
DHS Body-Worn Camera Act of 2018
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish pilot programs to test and evaluate the use of body-worn cameras by officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). DHS must develop draft policies for the use of such camera by CBP and ICE officers and agents and submit to Congress a plan to implement, on a permanent basis, the use of such cameras.
Common questions
- What does S. 3538 do?
- S. 3538, the DHS Body-Worn Camera Act of 2018, would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish pilot programs testing body-worn cameras for officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The CBP pilot would deploy at least 500 cameras, with half going to Border Patrol agents and half used along the Southwest Border, while the ICE pilot would also deploy at least 500 cameras, half to Enforcement and Removal Operations agents. The bill sets deadlines for implementation and requires detailed reports to Congress afterward covering use-of-force incidents, complaints, privacy issues, and camera effectiveness. It also requires DHS to develop written policies on camera activation, recording storage, privacy protections, public access to footage, and discipline for policy violations, done in consultation with DHS civil rights, privacy, and labor representatives and with public comment. The bill primarily affects CBP and ICE officers and agents with public-facing law enforcement duties, as well as members of the public who interact with them, including migrants, border crossers, and other individuals encountered during enforcement actions. It would also require DHS to eventually submit plans for permanent, department-wide camera deployment and to begin implementing those plans within set timeframes. S. 3538 was introduced in the Senate on October 2, 2018, by then-Senator Kamala Harris and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It did not receive a committee vote or further action before the 115th Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
- Has S. 3538 become law?
- Not yet. As of 2 Oct 2018, S. 3538 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 3538?
- S. 3538 was sponsored by Vice President Kamala Harris [D, 2021-2025] (Democrat-CA), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 3538?
- Introduced (2 Oct 2018).
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