President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan mentioned Monday he needs physique cameras “as quickly as attainable” for ICE officers because the Division of Homeland Safety faces escalating stress to hurry up digicam rollout within the wake of two lethal shootings.
Homan, chatting with reporters exterior the White Home, mentioned that physique cameras had been bought for officers nationwide and as of final week ICE was “coaching the trainers” on easy methods to train officers to make use of the cameras.
DHS promised months in the past to equip ICE brokers with physique cameras, however questions concerning the pace of the deployment surfaced this month after ICE officers who weren’t sporting cameras killed two folks in Maine and Houston. Neither of the folks killed was the meant goal of the enforcement operation.
White Home Border Czar Tom Homan speaks to reporters exterior of the White Home, July 20, 2026.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs
Homan has blamed the tempo of the rollout on Democrats in Congress, claiming the spring authorities shutdown delayed mandatory funding for the tools.
He mentioned on Monday that it took vital time and sources for ICE to rent workers, construct out storage functionality, and put together for an inflow of FOIA requests as soon as the cameras had been in use.
“As quickly as attainable, if I had it my approach,” he mentioned on the timeline for full deployment.
However a cadre of Democratic senators — together with Maine impartial Sen. Angus King — pushed again towards that narrative in a Sunday letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, claiming DHS “has had greater than enough time and funding” to distribute the cameras.
The senators famous that performing ICE director David Venturella instructed members of Congress the cameras could be in place by the tip of July and mentioned they noticed the “timeline not as a projection, however as a agency, binding dedication.” Rep. Sylvia Garcia mentioned just lately that Venturella made the identical promise to her.
The apply of auto stops — the operation that led to each lethal shootings this month — has specifically drawn scrutiny. The Division suspended most automobile stops early final week however Trump overturned the choice lower than 24 hours later.
Homan confirmed on Monday that that every one automobile stops should contain not less than one individual with a working physique digicam and that officers could be required to have their cameras on throughout the cease.
Homan maintained there have been no different coverage modifications deliberate for officers and pushed off questions concerning the vetting of the ICE officer who shot Johan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine final week.
Police block a street after a capturing in Biddeford, Maine, July 13, 2026.
Patrick Whittle/AP
“That is a query for ICE. That is below investigation. I am certain that half now could be a part of the investigation,” Homan mentioned in reference to the officer’s alleged historical past. “We’ll let the investigation play out.”
“I can not converse for everybody within the administration, however high quality brokers are crucial,” Homan added. “If you are going to give any person a badge and gun, they must be the perfect they are often.”
Homan additionally denied a report from The New York Occasions that the FBI would not be concerned in investigating assaults on ICE officers. The FBI and DHS wrote in a press release that the reporting was “false” and that the “FBI will proceed to analyze in accordance with company coverage.”
“The FBI remains to be going to proceed to steer capturing investigations. So far as I am involved, I am not conscious of any change in coverage, and I believe the FBI and DHS truly pushed again on that story,” Homan mentioned Monday.
