Maine Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins says that as of this Thursday afternoon all Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Maine have been issued body cameras.
In a statement, Collins said that she asked acting ICE director David Venturella to prioritize sending body cams to officers in Maine and that the equipment had arrived more than two weeks ahead of schedule.
Venturella had vowed to equip all agents by the end of August but has said that camera footage would only be released to the public if deemed to be in the “best interests of the agency.”
All this comes in the wake of last month’s fatal shooting of a 26-year-old Colombian immigrant in Biddeford, in which agents were not wearing body cameras.
At the same time, Maine’s Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King is demanding answers from ICE about reports that the agency plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that can deliver electric shocks.
In a written statement Thursday, King said it appears the agency is focused on the “intimidation of anyone critical of their often unlawful conduct.”
King says ICE needs to give Congress more information about its hiring practices, training, and tactics.
NPR reports the electric shock gloves have been purchased by schools, police departments, prisons, and several hospitals.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.