US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has told staff they are not permitted to wear Meta smart glasses while working, according to an internal memo reported by The New York Times. The guidance, which applies to all employees rather than just field agents, warns that the devices could unintentionally capture, record or transmit sensitive information, risking privacy and legal protections. The move comes after Meta's smart glasses were repeatedly spotted being worn by ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents during immigration operations across the US.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said staff have "always" been barred from using personally owned body-worn cameras, suggesting the memo clarifies existing rules rather than introducing new ones. Sightings of agents wearing the glasses, including one CBP officer reportedly recording despite the policy, have been documented in at least six states. Despite the ban on personal use, budget documents suggest ICE is separately pursuing bespoke smart glasses with biometric identification capabilities for official use by next year, even as Meta faces mounting criticism over the device's privacy risks, including an unreleased facial recognition feature and an easily bypassed recording indicator light.