Border communities urge White House to implement meaningful oversight

SOUTHERN BORDER: Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the completion of the second phase of its body-worn camera feasibility study. For over three years, border communities have urged Administration officials to equip all CBP officers and agents with body-worn cameras, paired with privacy protections, in response to the agency's out-of-control pattern of excessive force.

At a time of national debate regarding police accountability, CBP--the nation's largest police force-- should lead by example in adopting 21st century policing best practices to establish trust, transparency and accountability to border communities. Federal lawmakers and law-enforcement leaders have joined the chorus of voices urging Customs and Border Protection to take immediate steps towards greater transparency and accountability.

In response to today's developments, Christian Ramírez, director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, released the following statement:

Equipping federal officers with body-worn cameras represents a tangible and necessary commitment to oversight, transparency and the preservation of human life. We are encouraged by the commitment from Customs and Border Protection to move forward with the body-worn camera feasibility study and strongly urge CBP Commissioner Kerlikowske to equip all agents and officers with body-worn cameras before the end of the Obama administration.

The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) brings together more than 60 organizations from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas, to ensure that border enforcement policies and practices are accountable and fair, respect human dignity and human rights, and prevent the loss of life in the region.
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