FOCUS Act

Summary#

This bill amends existing immigration enforcement law to require that all federal law enforcement officers wear and operate body worn cameras while engaged in or supporting immigration enforcement or related activities. The bill defines "body worn camera" and "Federal law enforcement officer," and it explicitly includes private contractors who are authorized to perform enforcement duties. Footage must generally be kept for 1 year and may be deleted unless it shows use of force, events leading to or including arrest or detention, or an encounter that led to a complaint by a person in the video. Footage can be retained for at least 3 years when requested by specified people (including the officer, a supervisor, a subject of the video, a minor's parent or guardian, or next of kin of a deceased subject) or when kept for training. The bill requires camera features such as automatic activation, audit trail logging, GPS location, and LTE wireless upload. It creates requirements for internal accountability, documentation of failures to record, and disciplinary actions for intentionally turning off cameras. The Secretary of Homeland Security must provide annual unredacted reports about violations and discipline to oversight offices and certain congressional committees, and post a public version with allowable redactions. The Secretary must also establish an independent advisory panel on camera policies.

What it means for you#

• If you are a federal officer (including authorized contractors) doing immigration enforcement work, you must wear and operate a body camera and follow agency camera policies.
• Footage is normally kept for 1 year but will be kept longer in certain cases or when requested by listed people.
• Members of the public can request specific footage under the government records request procedures in section 552 of title 5, United States Code.
• Agencies must document recording failures and supervisors must ensure required training.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on projected costs, funding, or appropriations is provided in the bill text. The bill does require equipment features and systems such as automatic activation, audit trails, GPS, and LTE evidence upload, and it requires annual reporting and an advisory panel, but it does not specify budgets or cost estimates.

Proponents' View#

According to the bill text, the measure is intended to ensure transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement by requiring body cameras, setting rules for footage retention and access, establishing reporting and discipline procedures, and creating an independent advisory panel on camera policies.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.