SB 483: Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; covered immigration officers to wear body cameras during public immigration enforcement functions; require

Currently Georgia law does not require federal immigration officers to wear body cameras while doing their jobs in the state. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's law enforcement code (O.C.G.A. Title 35, Chapter 1) creating that requirement for what it calls 'covered immigration officers,' defined as officers or employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who are authorized to carry out immigration enforcement. The bill defines a 'public immigration enforcement function' broadly to include patrols, stops, arrests, searches, status interviews, raids, checkpoint inspections, and serving warrants. Any covered officer engaged in these activities within Georgia would have to wear a body camera that is fully operational and actively recording both audio and video the entire time. The bill does not specify penalties for noncompliance or an enforcement mechanism.

• Adds a new Georgia Code section (O.C.G.A. § 35-1-17.1) requiring covered immigration officers to wear body cameras during public immigration enforcement.
• Defines 'body camera' as a wearable device that records activities from the point of view of the person wearing it.
• Defines 'covered immigration officer' as an ICE officer or employee authorized to perform immigration enforcement.
• Defines 'public immigration enforcement function' to include patrols, stops, arrests, searches, status interviews, raids, checkpoints, and warrant service.
• Requires the body camera to be fully operational and recording both audio and video at all times during covered enforcement activity in Georgia.

The bill directly affects officers and employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operating in Georgia, and by extension the people they encounter during patrols, stops, arrests, searches, raids, checkpoints, or warrant service.

If enacted, ICE officers doing public enforcement work in Georgia, like stops, raids, or searches, would be required to record those encounters on video and audio. This would create a documented record of interactions between federal immigration agents and the public in the state.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 35-1-17.1 to Chapter 1 of Title 35, which covers general provisions for law enforcement officers and agencies.
• Subsection (a)(1) defines a body camera as a wearable device that records from the wearer's point of view.
• Subsection (a)(2) limits the requirement to officers or employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement performing immigration enforcement.
• Subsection (a)(3) lists activities counted as public immigration enforcement functions, including patrols, arrests, raids, checkpoints, and warrant service.
• Subsection (b) is the operative requirement: covered officers must wear a body camera that is operational and recording audio and video throughout the enforcement activity.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2026-02-10Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-09Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)Primary sponsor
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)

• immigration enforcement
• body cameras
• ICE
• law enforcement transparency
• police accountability