Questions have risen about the lack of cameras after two fatal shootings.
President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Monday he wants body cameras "as soon as possible" for ICE officers as the Department of Homeland Security faces escalating pressure to speed up camera rollout in the wake of two deadly shootings.
Homan, speaking to reporters outside the White House, said that body cameras were purchased for officers nationwide and as of last week ICE was "training the trainers" on how to teach officers to use the cameras.
DHS promised months ago to equip ICE agents with body cameras, but questions about the speed of the deployment surfaced this month after ICE officers who were not wearing cameras killed two people in Maine and Houston. Neither of the people killed was the intended target of the enforcement operation.
Homan has blamed the pace of the rollout on Democrats in Congress, claiming the spring government shutdown delayed necessary funding for the equipment.
He said on Monday that it took significant time and resources for ICE to hire staff, build out storage capability, and prepare for an influx of FOIA requests once the cameras were in use.
"As soon as possible, if I had it my way," he said on the timeline for full deployment.
But a cadre of Democratic senators -- along with Maine independent Sen. Angus King -- pushed back against that narrative in a Sunday letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, claiming DHS "has had more than sufficient time and funding" to distribute the cameras.
The senators noted that acting ICE director David Venturella told members of Congress the cameras would be in place by the end of July and said they saw the "timeline not as a projection, but as a firm, binding commitment." Rep. Sylvia Garcia said recently that Venturella made the same promise to her.
The practice of vehicle stops -- the operation that led to both deadly shootings this month -- has in particular drawn scrutiny. The Department suspended most vehicle stops early last week but Trump overturned the decision less than 24 hours later.
Homan confirmed on Monday that that all vehicle stops must involve at least one person with a working body camera and that officers would be required to have their cameras on for the duration of the stop.
Homan maintained there were no other policy changes planned for officers and pushed off questions about the vetting of the ICE officer who shot Johan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine last week.
"That's a question for ICE. That's under investigation. I'm sure that part now is part of the investigation," Homan said in reference to the officer's alleged history. "We'll let the investigation play out."
"I can't speak for everyone in the administration, but quality agents are very important," Homan added. "If you're going to give somebody a badge and gun, they need to be the best they can be."
Homan also denied a report from The New York Times that the FBI would no longer be involved in investigating assaults on ICE officers. The FBI and DHS wrote in a statement that the reporting was "false" and that the "FBI will continue to investigate in accordance with agency policy."
"The FBI is still going to continue to lead shooting investigations. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not aware of any change in policy, and I think the FBI and DHS actually pushed back on that story," Homan said Monday.
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