Do ICE agents wear body cameras during raids?

1. The policy framework: a written mandate exists

ICE promulgated Directive 19010.3 and related guidance establishing a Body Worn Camera program that directs Law Enforcement Officers and Agents to use BWCs during enforcement activities and sets rules for activation, storage, and privacy safeguards; the directive and ICE’s public releases frame BWCs as an agency requirement rather than purely optional equipment ^{[1] [2] [4]}.

2. Deployment so far: pilot, initial rollout, and staged expansion

ICE announced an initial deployment and subsequent updates to its BWC policy in 2025 and described implementation by field office and program area — indicating a staged rollout rather than immediate, nationwide issuance — and ICE’s materials acknowledge that not all law enforcement personnel would be immediately issued cameras ^{[2] [5] [4]}.

3. The operational reality: some agents wear cameras, many do not

Local reporting and watchdog coverage show that some ICE agents do wear BWCs during raids and other public‑facing enforcement actions, but the agency has not fully equipped or activated BWCs across every office or unit, which means some raids may still occur without agency‑issued camera recording ^{[3] [6] [7]}.

4. Legal and policy carve‑outs that affect whether a raid is recorded

ICE’s BWC policy and the DHS program include exemptions and procedures — for example limitations tied to certain investigative activities, safety or privacy concerns, and coordination with other agencies — so even where cameras exist an agent may be exempted from recording in specific circumstances ^{[1] [2] [8]}.

5. Accountability gaps, alternative recording practices, and controversies

Reporters and privacy advocates have noted gaps: federal agents have sometimes used phones, smart glasses or other devices to record, raising questions about central control of footage and retention; critics warn that ad hoc recording by agents or bystanders cannot substitute for a consistent, policy‑governed BWC program ^{[9] [7] [10]}.

6. Politics, funding, and the near‑term outlook

Congressional bills and proposals seek to mandate universal use or to set rules on disclosure and oversight, while DHS budget moves and debate over appropriations have at times proposed reducing BWC spending — meaning the pace and completeness of ICE’s rollout are vulnerable to political and funding pressures ^{[11] [12] [13] [14]}.

Conclusion: what “Do ICE agents wear body cameras during raids?” means in practice

The technically correct answer is that ICE requires and has deployed BWCs for enforcement activities and many agents do wear them during raids, but coverage is uneven: some field offices and operations are still not fully covered, policy exemptions exist, and ad hoc recordings by personal devices complicate the accountability picture — therefore one cannot assume every ICE raid will be captured by an agency BWC unless the local office has completed rollout and no exemption applies ^{[1] [2] [3] [9] [7]}.