DHS was granted $20M for body cameras. ICE agents in fatal Houston shooting had none

Source: AP

Updated 4:35 PM EDT, July 10, 2026


WASHINGTON (AP) — In the days after two American citizens were shot and killed in Minneapolis earlier this year, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the department would “rapidly acquire and deploy” body cameras to its officers around the country.

Nearly half a year later, after another shooting death under disputed circumstances blamed on the department, the promise still hasn’t been fully met — prompting outrage from critics who say the cameras are a chance at accountability for officers enforcing President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers involved in the Houston shooting death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican man who lived in the U.S. for more than 35 years, were not wearing body cameras, Homeland Security has said. No evidence has emerged to support DHS’ version of events — that an officer opened fire at Salgado Araujo after he rammed an ICE vehicle chasing his van. Witnesses deny those claims. Cameras could have helped shed light on what exactly took place.

The shooting has opened ICE up to fresh scrutiny over its tactics at a time when arrests have ticked up and as DHS is flush with billions of dollars from an infusion granted by Congress — some of which was earmarked to outfit officers with body cameras.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/cameras-body-worn-houston-shooting-ice-immigration-trump-aa316992c75fcd919726afc4db6f4098