US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that her department will immediately deploy body cameras to all law enforcement officers operating in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

"Effective immediately, we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis," she said on the US social media company X’s platform.

Noem’s remarks came after her talks with Border Czar Tom Homan, acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott.

"As funding is available, the body camera program will be expanded nationwide.

"We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country," she added.

The announcement came amid protests against ICE operations and shootings by federal immigration agents that have taken place for more than a month across the state. Demonstrations escalated following the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by immigration officers last month, and the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.

The Pretti shooting heightened tensions as local and state leaders demanded independent investigations and questioned federal cooperation with authorities.

US President Donald Trump meanwhile said that the deployment of body cameras was not his decision.

"I leave it to her," he told reporters at the White House, referring to Noem.

Trump said body cameras "tend to be good" for law enforcement "because people can't lie about what's happening."

"If she wants to do the camera thing, that's okay with me," he added. (AA)

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