On Thursday, July 16th, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that its officers nationwide may resume traffic stops under new guidance requiring that at least one officer involved in the stop wear a body camera. According to ICE sources speaking to Fox News, officers without access to body cameras are not authorized to conduct traffic stops.

The rollout of body cameras began in ICE's largest cities and has so far reached more than half of the agency's field offices. The remaining offices are expected to receive body cameras within the next 60 days, which means the policy will continue to limit the number of traffic stops until the rollout is complete.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Fox News, "ICE will ensure each arrest team has an individual wearing a body camera." The spokesperson emphasized that equipping ICE officers with body cameras is a top priority, particularly in light of a reported increase in attacks against law enforcement, including a more than 1,300% rise in assaults and a 3,300% rise in vehicle attacks.

The DHS statement also noted, "This is especially needed because the media and sanctuary politicians consistently spread smears about our law enforcement."

This new directive marks a significant operational change for ICE as it expands the use of body cameras while resuming a key immigration enforcement tactic during President Donald Trump's second administration. Recently, ICE set a record by arresting 238 illegal immigrants in a single day during a South Texas enforcement operation.

Sources