By Steve Neavling
U.S. Border Patrol agents have been ordered to stop using body cameras during field operations, citing security risks linked to social media posts, NewsNation reported Saturday.
“All U.S. Border Patrol Agents will cease the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) in all operational environments,” reads a statement sent to Border Patrol personnel and obtained by NewsNation.
The directive follows reports of a potential security threat.
“Pending completion of investigation and risk mitigation, all Agents will stand down the use of their BWCs [body-worn cameras] until further notice. Additional guidance and information will be disseminated as it is received,” the statement said.
The decision comes after a Reddit user claimed agents could be identified using BLE Radar, a mobile app that scans for Bluetooth low-energy devices, including phones, smartwatches, and speakers. Social media posts suggest agents could be tracked from more than 100 yards away and warn that the technology could be used to trigger explosive devices.
Meanwhile, ICE has ramped up deportations of immigrants without legal status, using commercial databases, driver’s records, and utility records to locate individuals subject to removal, according to the agency’s website.
President Trump recently signed a memo directing preparations to use a facility at Guantánamo Bay to house deported migrants, the latest in his administration’s push to expand removals.
