Border patrol to stop usage of body cameras in the field: Report

U.S. Border Patrol agents will stop using body cameras immediately in all field operations following social media posts that revealed how to identify Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, NewsNation reported on Saturday.

“All U.S. Border Patrol Agents will cease the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) in all operational environments,” reads a statement to Border Patrol received by NewsNation.

The directive follows notification "regarding a potential security risk," the statement said. "Pending completion of investigation and risk mitigation, all Agents will stand down the use of their BWCs [body worn cameras] until further notice. Additional guidance and information will be disseminated as it is received," the statement added.

On the social media platform Reddit, a user claimed that agents could be identified by using BLE Radar by F-Droid. BLE Radar, a mobile application, functions by scanning for Bluetooth low-energy devices like phones, smartwatches and speakers.

Social media posts say they can be tracked from a distance of 100 yards or more and can trigger improvised explosive device attacks.

ICE is increasing its deportations of undocumented immigrants in the US, using various data sources like commercial databases, driver's records, and utility records to find and deport non-citizens who are subject to removal, according to its website.

President Trump recently signed a memo to prepare a facility at Guantánamo Bay for the use of housing deported migrants — the latest in the effort enacted by the Trump administration to remove certain immigrants from the United States.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.