The White House revealed on Tuesday a letter sent to Senate Republicans detailing the Trump administration’s new plan to “improve” operations at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The letter, sent to Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Susan Collins (R-ME), was the administration’s latest attempt to strike a deal with Senate Democrats, whose refusal to fund the DHS over immigration enforcement methods triggered a partial government shutdown in mid-February. But on Wednesday, Democrats rejected the White House’s offer, arguing it failed to address their concerns.
More Bodycams for DHS
The letter outlined five areas in which the Trump administration is willing to codify improved operational guidelines for the department, including:
Expand the use of body-worn cameras by DHS personnel involved in immigration enforcement, excluding those working undercover.
Limit civil immigration enforcement at “certain sensitive locations,” with an exception made for national security, flight risks, or public safety.
Increase oversight by “creating mandatory review and compliance reporting from the Inspector General of DHS.”
Enforce the use of “visible officer identification for DHS law enforcement carrying out immigration enforcement activities.”
Adhere to existing law prohibiting the deportation of any US citizen, and codify the current standard of “not knowingly detaining a US citizen” unless the individual is subject to arrest under state or federal law.
The call for expanded bodycam usage touches on an issue that has been politically charged for more than a decade. In 2014, after Michael Brown was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, law enforcement agencies across the US started embracing the technology.
"A lot of departments purchased cameras so they wouldn't be the next Ferguson. There was a lot of emphasis on transparency, on demonstrating to your community that you're willing to be open and to have some accountability,” said former deputy sheriff Michael White, who is also a professor for the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University.



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