May 24, 2023

Wyden Applauds DHS’s New Body Camera Policy

Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., applauded the Department of Homeland Security for releasing a new department-wide policy requiring use of body-worn cameras to improve accountability of DHS law enforcement personnel. The policy was recommended by DHS’s Law Enforcement Coordination Council, which was created following Wyden’s hold on the confirmation of former Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus in order to secure transparency and reforms following reports of abusive tactics by DHS personnel in Portland in 2020.

“The inappropriate use of force by federal agents in Portland during the summer of 2020 must never happen again. I’m glad to see DHS issue a new, department-wide policy to promote greater accountability by its personnel, which is essential to building public trust in a department with an unfortunate history of overstepping its authority. I will continue to watchdog how the department rolls out the policy, and to push DHS for additional reforms to ensure that federal agencies limit their use of force, uphold people’s civil rights and liberties, and aren’t hijacked for political ends.”

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Contact: Keith Chu