Bill · S. 3699· Senate(119-S-3699)
FOCUS Act
- Introduced
- 1/27/2026
- Last activity
- 1/27/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Cory Booker
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The FOCUS Act aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase transparency and accountability. It requires all Federal law enforcement officers engaged in or supporting immigration enforcement to wear and operate a body worn camera while on duty. The bill establishes specific rules for the retention and access of video footage. It also mandates certain technical features for the cameras, such as automatic activation and GPS services. Finally, the Act includes provisions for disciplinary actions and annual reporting to Congress to ensure compliance.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+7
The bill mandates public posting of annual reports detailing disciplinary actions and camera violations.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?+5
Increased transparency in immigration enforcement provides greater protection against potential misconduct.
Would immigrants be better off under this?+5
The act provides increased accountability and a process for accessing video evidence of interactions with federal officers.
The opposite
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-3
The requirement for constant video and GPS recording increases surveillance of individuals during enforcement actions.
Does this tighten control of the border?-2
Increased oversight requirements may add procedural burdens to immigration enforcement activities.
Does this give people more control over their personal data?-2
The collection of video and GPS data creates new privacy considerations for individuals being recorded.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Transparency and Accountability: By requiring Federal law enforcement officers to wear and operate body worn cameras, the bill aims to ensure transparency and accountability during immigration enforcement activities (Section 2).
-
Access to Evidence: Video footage can be requested by persons or entities through established government record procedures, allowing individuals to access recordings of their interactions (Section 2, paragraph 5).
-
Extended Evidence Preservation: The bill allows for longer retention of footage (not less than 3 years) if requested by those with a connection to the event, such as a subject of the footage, a legal representative, a parent or guardian of a minor, or a deceased subject's next of kin (Section 2, paragraph 4).
-
Oversight and Expert Guidance: The Secretary of Homeland Security is required to establish an independent advisory panel made up of experts in civil rights, privacy, technology, and law enforcement oversight to provide policy recommendations (Section 2).
-
Public Oversight: An annual report detailing violations and disciplinary actions must be submitted to Congress and made available on a public website, allowing the public to see how the policy is being implemented (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Mandatory Discipline for Non-Compliance: Federal law enforcement officers face administrative discipline, such as written reprimands or suspension, if they fail to comply with the body camera requirements (Section 3, subsection b).
-
Severe Penalties for Intentional Misconduct: Officers who intentionally turn off their body worn cameras are subject to discipline that may include termination of employment (Section 3, subsection d).
-
Potential Redactions of Public Information: While annual reports are to be made public, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security may redact information to protect sensitive operations, investigations, or individual privacy (Section 3, subsection g).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Immigrants+5Good For Low Income Households+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Pathway To Citizenship+2Improves Border Security-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+7Improves Privacy Rights-3
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy-2
- 1/27/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota