The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will receive body cameras. The move follows backlash over the deaths last month of two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, amid a surge of federal officers in the city.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X on Monday: “Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis.”
Hennepin County rules Pretti death a homicide
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has classified Pretti’s 24 January death as a homicide, reporting he suffered “multiple gunshot wounds” fired by one or more law enforcement officers. He died in the emergency room at Hennepin County Medical Center. Homicide does not necessarily indicate a crime occurred.
US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that the two agents involved in Pretti’s death wore body cameras and have been placed on leave. The US Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the incident.
Nationwide expansion planned
Noem said that once funding becomes available, the body camera programme will expand to federal immigration agents across the US. The announcement comes as the government enters day three of a partial shutdown, with Democrats pushing for immigration reforms, including body cameras, as part of any funding deal.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the second-highest funded US law enforcement agency, after Congress authorised $80bn (£59bn) for it last year.
President Donald Trump said body cameras “generally tend to be good for law enforcement because people can’t lie about what’s happening” and estimated that they are “80% good for law enforcement.”
Leadership changes and local tensions
Following Pretti’s death, the Trump administration removed US Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino from Minneapolis and replaced him with border tsar Tom Homan. Homan has met with local leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Michael Frey, to discuss easing tensions after the recent deaths.
Walz and Frey have called for the complete withdrawal of federal agents from the state’s capital region. Homan said any reduction of federal presence would depend on co-operation from state and local authorities.
The administration criticised Minneapolis for maintaining a “sanctuary city” policy that bars city employees from enforcing immigration laws. Mayor Frey said the city wants police officers “doing the important work of keeping Minneapolis residents safe,” but will co-operate with federal authorities in certain situations.
Federal immigration surge continues
Over 3,000 federal immigration officers have operated in Minnesota for weeks as part of the federal immigration surge ordered by Trump, reflecting his campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration.
Source: BBC
Featured photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images
Also read: Federal judge allows Operation Metro Surge to continue despite Minnesota protests
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