ICE would need more money to expand use of bodycams in Chicago crackdown, official says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News/AP

Oct. 21, 2025, 10:03 AM EDT


CHICAGO — Many federal officers assigned to immigration enforcement in the Chicago area have body cameras but Congress would have to allocate more funds to expand their use, officials testified Monday at a hearing about the tactics agents are using in Trump administration's crackdown, which has produced more than 1,000 arrests.

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis last week ordered uniformed agents to wear cameras, if available, and turn them on when engaged in arrests, frisks and building searches or when being deployed to protests. She held a hearing Monday at which she questioned a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official and a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement official about the operation and complaints that agents are increasingly using combative tactics.

Kyle Harvick, deputy incident commander with CBP, said Border Patrol agents who are part of Operation Midway Blitz have cameras. He said 201 are in the Chicago area.

But Shawn Byers, deputy field office director for ICE, said more money from Congress would be needed to expand camera use beyond two of that agency's field offices. He said no cameras have been worn by ICE agents working at a building in Broadview, outside Chicago, where immigrants pass through before being detained elsewhere. It's been the site of protests that at times have been tumultuous.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ice-need-money-expand-use-bodycams-chicago-crackdown-official-says-rcna238860

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How about canceling that fucking contract for "tricked out" 45-branded vehicles @$100K per, and get some damn body cams - EXCLUSIVE: ICE to spend $100 million on 1,000 more SUVs to support Trump’s mass deportation efforts


The graphics packages ordered by ICE are inspired by Donald Trump's private 757, and feature the president's name on the rear windows. ICE will now take delivery of 1,000 new SUVs, according to government procurement data

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143518549
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143533334

[maxsolomon]

1. Lol, didn't the Reconciliation Bill give them 28 billion?

What a load of BS.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. I call BULLSHIT. Fck Off thieves.

[WmChris]

3. Downsize

Limit ice agents in Chicago to only those who can be outfitted with cameras.

[Deuxcents]

5. They found enough money for 2 new planes for Noem

[Traildogbob]

6. I read a post

Here earlier that ICE has increased it’s funding for guns over 700 fucking percent.
Priorities right. NRA is masterbating.
Saw way too many “join ice” commercials during football games last Saturday.
Imagine, “ Join Ice with amazing pay, guns, uniforms and all kinds of war toys to “play”soldier. And you are guaranteed to never get shot back at. Fat bearded assholes welcome.”
How many broke ass, racist, high school drop outs will run to that? Our taxes, that should go to health care.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Oh, that's rich. Don't they have more money than the FBI?

[lastlib]

8. Hey, Krusty Gnome, stop hiring thugs, and......

you'll have the money.


Simple solution.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. or they could take it out of ICE's $71m on "small arms", chemical weapons and guided missiles

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220737492

Up by 700% on previous years.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sharply increased its spending on weapons in 2025, according to an analysis of federal government contracting data by Popular Information. Records from the Federal Procurement Data System reveal that ICE has increased spending on “small arms, ordnance, and ordnance accessories manufacturing” by 700% compared to 2024 levels.

New spending in the small arms category from January 20, 2025, the day Trump was inaugurated, through October 18, totaled $71,515,762. Most of the spending was on guns and armor, but there have also been significant purchases of chemical weapons and “guided missile warheads and explosive components.”

On September 29, 2025, ICE made a $9,098,590 purchase from Geissele Automatics, which sells semi-automatic and automatic rifles. The total spending by ICE in the small arms category between January 20 and October 18, 2024, was $9,715,843.

Spending by ICE on guns and other weapons this year not only dwarfs spending during the Biden administration but also during Trump’s first term. In 2019, for example, ICE spent $5.7 million on small arms through October 18. Average ICE spending on small arms during Trump’s first four years was about $8.4 million.

https://popular.info/p/ice-boosts-weapons-spending-700

[aggiesal]

10. ICEstapo agents are getting paid signing bonuses and bounties ...

Have them pay them out of that.

[patphil]

11. I thought Trump's "big beautiful bill" gave ICE 35 billion dollars.

Don't tell me it's already gone. Or has it ended up in Trump's foreign bank accounts.

[PortTack]

12. Those fucking violent thugs got 700 million for weapons...what weapons? GD it...make them buy and wear body cams

Let that sink in 700 million for weapons against Americans