border patrol car

Border Patrol May Give Body Cameras To Agents at Certain Checkpoints

Customs and Border Protection is asking vendors to describe their ability to provide body cameras, video management, facial recognition technology and more.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Oct 17, 2019

Border agents may be given body cameras capable of recording their interactions with the public, according to a recent request for information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. 

The agency is asking vendors to describe their capabilities in bringing together three components to support an incident-driven video recording system (IDVRS): body worn cameras, software for video management and redaction, and cloud storage management. Vendors have until Oct. 31 to respond to the request. 

In the RFI, CBP said it envisions a targeted deployment of body cameras at checkpoints set up on the border between ports of entry. These checkpoints typically have limited video recording and IT infrastructure in place, NextGov reported.

“CBP is considering a targeted deployment of IDVRS to select known interdiction points where fixed camera systems do not record agent interactions with the public,” the agency wrote. “CBP will prioritize locations based on operational need.”

Some of the agency’s requirements include cameras that can be turned on and off manually with a 30-second buffer period to capture events that happened prior to the agent turning a camera on, according to NextGov. Recording devices should be able to capture and store video for 12 hours at a time. 

In addition, the agency is requiring vendors to allow authorized users to redact identifiable information within the system. That system must have the ability to track user activity in order to prevent abuse of the alteration capability. 

Most footage collected through the program would be stored in CBP-owned data servers, but the agency is also interested in cloud storage for video that requires long-term retention, which CBP classifies as longer than two years. Agency users would also require a cloud storage platform for files that are frequently accessed, according to the RFI memo. 

CBP also requests that vendors describe their facial recognition capabilities. The agency runs a facial recognition program at airports and other entry points into the U.S. and may expand into body cameras if this initiative goes forward, according to the memo. 

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.