GOP Rep. Calls for ICE, CBP Reforms Like Body Cameras, ID Badges

Bacon says 'overreach' by border agencies needs to be reined in under new leadership.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:18pm

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In a CNN interview, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) acknowledged past 'overreach' by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), but said 'commonsense' reforms like body cameras, ID badges, and no masks 'make sense' for the agencies under new leadership.

Why it matters

Bacon's comments reflect a growing bipartisan push for increased transparency and accountability at the border agencies, which have faced allegations of civil rights abuses and mistreatment of migrants in recent years.

The details

Bacon cited specific incidents in his home city of Omaha where people legally in the U.S. were wrongfully detained and nearly deported by ICE and CBP before his office intervened. He said the 'main proponents of the overreach' at the agencies have been removed, and that new leadership under Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is taking a 'more sound, balanced policy.'

  • Bacon made these comments on March 28, 2026 during an interview on CNN's 'The Arena'.

The players

Rep. Don Bacon

A Republican Congressman representing Nebraska's 2nd congressional district.

Alejandro Mayorkas

The current Secretary of Homeland Security, appointed in 2021.

Thomas Homan

A former acting director of ICE who Bacon says was one of the 'main proponents of the overreach' at the border agencies.

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What they’re saying

“I would say that there was overreach done by Border Patrol and ICE. I have a couple incidences in Omaha where people were in Omaha legally with legal work permits and were detained and were in the process of being deported, until we intervened.”

— Rep. Don Bacon, U.S. Congressman

“So, I think this is doable for the greatest country in the world to realize, yes, there's been overreach, but we've got to know that there [are] bad people here, too, that we've got to take care of. And I just think there's some commonsense middle ground with our Democratic colleagues that should be able to open this up and get past this, body cameras, wearing your IDs, not wearing masks, things like this. They make sense.”

— Rep. Don Bacon, U.S. Congressman

What’s next

Bacon said the new Homeland Security leadership under Secretary Mayorkas is taking a more balanced approach, suggesting further reforms and oversight of ICE and CBP could be on the horizon.

The takeaway

Bacon's comments reflect a growing bipartisan consensus that border agencies like ICE and CBP need increased transparency and accountability measures, even as the agencies continue to play a critical role in enforcing immigration laws and securing the border.