All Homeland Security officers in Minneapolis getting body cameras

Every Homeland Security officer on the ground in Minneapolis, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will be immediately issued body worn cameras, Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday, in the latest fallout after the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents.

- BY REBECCA SANTANA

ERIC THAYER Los Angeles Times HOMELAND Security agents are shown in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday after taking a person into custody.

Noem said the bodyworn camera program is being expanded nationwide as funding becomes available.

"We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country," Noem said in a social media post on X.

The news of the body cameras comes as Minneapolis has been the site of intense scrutiny over the conduct of federal officers after two U.S. citizens protesting immigration enforcement activities in the city were shot and killed.

It is the latest apparent effort by the Trump administration to ratchet down tensions after the shootings triggered protests and widespread criticism.

Deaths sparked accountability calls

In the immediate hours after ICU nurse Alex Pretti's death, Noem went on the offensive, saying several times that Pretti "came with a weapon and dozens of rounds of ammunition and attacked" officers, who took action to "defend their lives." Other administration officials painted a similar picture.

Multiple videos that emerged of the shooting contradicted that claim, showing Pretti had only his mobile phone in his hand as officers tackled him to the ground, with one removing a handgun from the back of his pants as another officer began firing shots into his back.