The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has ordered federal officers in Minneapolis to immediately wear body cameras following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens, turning the incident into a hot topic that pressures the government to accelerate reforms amid the shutdown crisis.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an urgent measure requiring federal immigration officers operating in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to wear body cameras effective immediately.
This decision comes after the government faced heavy criticism over the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Rene Good, last month. Both died during a strict crackdown on immigrants in the area, with Pretti's autopsy clearly stating he was "murdered" by multiple gunshot wounds inflicted by officers.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that the two officers involved in the shooting of Pretti were wearing body cameras at the time and have since been suspended. The U.S. Department of Justice has officially opened a civil rights investigation into the case.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated plans to expand the body camera program nationwide once funding is secured. However, the U.S. is currently entering the third day of a "partial government shutdown" due to Democrats demanding immigration reforms, including mandatory body cameras, as part of the budget approval.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump commented that body cameras are beneficial for about 80% of law enforcement officers because they help prevent people from lying about incidents.
To ease tensions, the Trump administration has ordered the removal of Gregory Bovino, the head of the border patrol unit, from the area and replaced him with Tom Homan, the U.S. Border Chief. Homan met with the governor of Minnesota and the mayor of Minneapolis to discuss plans to "withdraw" some federal officers from the region.
However, conflict persists as the federal government criticizes Minneapolis for its "sanctuary city" policy, which refuses to cooperate with federal officers in immigration enforcement. Local leaders have called for the complete withdrawal of over 3,000 federal officers deployed under Trump's orders to ensure local safety.
. BBC