H.R. 5653

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5653 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5653

To amend section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require 
all immigration enforcement officers to wear and operate a body camera 
during public-facing immigration enforcement actions and to promote 
transparency and accountability.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 30, 2025

Mr. Norcross introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require 
all immigration enforcement officers to wear and operate a body camera 
during public-facing immigration enforcement actions and to promote 
transparency and accountability.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Trust Through Transparency Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. IN GENERAL.

Section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Body Camera Usage.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than each covered immigration 
agent shall wear and operate a body camera during any public 
immigration enforcement function.
``(2) Use of footage.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), 
video footage from such a body camera shall be retained by 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement for six months from the 
date the footage was recorded. The video footage shall 
thereafter be permanently deleted unless the footage captures--
``(A) images involving any use of force;
``(B) events preceding and including an arrest for 
a crime or attempted crime; or
``(C) an encounter about which a complaint has been 
registered by a subject of the video footage.
``(3) Extended retention period.--Video footage from such a 
body camera shall be retained for not less than three years if 
a longer retention period is voluntarily requested by--
``(A) the covered immigration officer whose body 
worn camera recorded the video footage, if that officer 
reasonably asserts the video footage has evidentiary or 
exculpatory value;
``(B) a covered immigration officer who is a 
subject of the video footage, if that officer 
reasonably asserts the video footage has evidentiary or 
exculpatory value;
``(C) any superior officer of an officer whose body 
worn camera recorded the video footage or who is a 
subject of the video footage, if that superior officer 
reasonably asserts the video footage has evidentiary or 
exculpatory value;
``(D) a covered immigration officer, if the video 
footage is being retained solely and exclusively for 
training purposes;
``(E) a member of the public who is a subject of 
the video footage;
``(F) a parent or legal guardian of a minor who is 
a subject of the video footage; or
``(G) a deceased subject's next of kin or legally 
authorized designee.
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) The term `covered immigration officer' means 
any individual who is--
``(i) authorized to perform immigration 
enforcement functions; and
``(ii)(I) an officer or employee of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection;
``(II) an officer or employee of U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement; or
``(III) an individual authorized, 
deputized, or designated under Federal law, 
regulation, or agreement to perform immigration 
enforcement functions, including pursuant to 
subsection (g) or any other delegation or 
agreement with the Department of Homeland 
Security.
``(B) The term `body worn camera' means a mobile 
audio and video recording system worn by a law 
enforcement officer, but shall not include a recording 
device worn by a law enforcement officer while engaging 
in an undercover assignment.
``(C) The term `public immigration enforcement 
function'--
``(i) means any activity that involves the 
direct exercise of Federal immigration 
authority through public-facing actions, 
including a patrol, a stop, an arrest, a 
search, an interview to determine immigration 
status, a raid, a check point inspection, or 
the service of a judicial or administrative 
warrant; and
``(ii) does not include covert, non-public 
operations or non-enforcement activities.''.

SEC. 3. COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING.

(a) Internal Accountability.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall ensure that any covered immigration officer who fails to comply 
with the requirements under section 287(i) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act shall receive appropriate administrative discipline, 
including written reprimand, suspension, or other personnel actions, 
consistent with agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining 
agreement.
(b) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to the Office for 
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland 
Security, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that 
includes--
(1) the total number of public immigration enforcement 
functions conducted during the reporting period;
(2) the number of documented instances of noncompliance 
with section 287(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and
(3) a summary of disciplinary or remedial actions taken 
against those responsible for such instances of noncompliance.
(c) Public Availability.--The annual report shall be made available 
to the public on the website of the Department of Homeland Security 
within 30 days of submission to Congress. The Inspector General may 
redact information from the public version of the report where 
necessary to protect sensitive law enforcement operations, ongoing 
investigations, or individual privacy, provided that the justification 
for such redactions is included.
(d) Independent Review Panel.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall establish an independent advisory panel composed of individuals 
with expertise in civil rights, privacy, technology, and law 
enforcement oversight to provide non-binding recommendations on 
policies governing the use and management of body cameras and recorded 
footage.
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