Bill > HR5653

This bill, known as the Trust Through Transparency Act of 2025, mandates that all immigration enforcement officers wear and operate body cameras during public-facing enforcement actions to increase accountability and transparency. Specifically, the bill requires covered immigration officers (which includes employees of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other federally authorized immigration enforcement personnel) to use body cameras during activities like patrols, stops, arrests, searches, status interviews, raids, and checkpoint inspections. Video footage must be retained for six months and permanently deleted unless the recording captures use of force, events preceding an arrest, or involves a registered complaint. In certain circumstances, such as when an officer or subject requests it, footage can be retained for up to three years. The bill also establishes compliance mechanisms, including requiring the Department of Homeland Security to track and report instances of non-compliance, impose administrative discipline for officers who fail to follow the body camera requirements, and submit annual reports to Congress detailing the number of enforcement actions and any disciplinary actions taken. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of an independent advisory panel to provide recommendations on body camera policies, with the goal of protecting both law enforcement operations and individual privacy.