House Bill 3751, which removes the requirement of US citizenship to become a police officer in Illinois, will take effect on January 1, 2024.
The move has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it undermines the integrity of law enforcement. In response, Governor Pritzker defended the decision, stating that the bill only applies to individuals who are legally allowed to work in the US and possess firearms.
"We have the ability for people who are legally here in this country, and permanent residents and DACA residents, to apply for jobs as police officers," Pritzker said.
August 02, 2023
DACA residents, who fall under President Obama's "Dream Act," are individuals who were brought to the US illegally by their parents when they were minors. They did not choose to be illegal immigrants, but rather, their status was determined by their parents' actions.
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According to the legislation, non-US citizens who are legally authorized to work in the US under federal law can apply for the position of police officer, subject to all other requirements and limitations that apply to other applicants, except for citizenship.
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In addition, non-US citizens must be allowed to possess firearms under federal law in order to be eligible for the job. The legislation also extends to immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act.
However, it is important to note that federal law currently prohibits non-US citizens from serving as police officers and deputies.
Critics of the legislation, such as Illinois Republican Rep. Mary Miller, argue that allowing non-citizens to arrest citizens is a dangerous precedent. Miller expressed her concerns on Twitter, stating, "...when no one was paying attention, Pritzker signed a bill to allow illegal immigrants to become police officers, giving non-citizens the power to arrest citizens in our state. No sane state would allow foreign nationals to arrest their citizens, this is madness!"
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Illinois Republican state Senator Chapin Rose also voiced his opposition to the legislation, calling it "a fundamentally bad idea."
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) expressed its concerns about the legislation, stating, "What message does this legislation send when it allows people who do not have legal status to become the enforcers of our laws? This is a potential crisis of confidence in law enforcement at a time when our officers need all the public confidence they can get."
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Democratic Rep. Barbara Hernandez, the sponsor of the bill, defended the legislation, calling it a "natural progression" of a federal decision in 2021 that allowed illegal immigrants to work in the healthcare industry and the military.
Governor Pritzker addressed the criticism during a press conference, stating, "I am tired of the right-wing twisting things. They put it on Facebook, they tell lies. There are people out there that think we’re just allowing anybody to become a police officer. That’s just not accurate."
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According to Fox News, Illinois, like many other states and municipalities, is facing police shortages due to recruitment and retention issues. In March 2022, the Chicago Police Department experienced its lowest staffing numbers in recent history, prompting the department to lower its recruiting requirements.
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The new legislation aims to address these shortages by expanding the pool of potential candidates for police officer positions. However, its implementation has raised concerns about the potential impact on public confidence in law enforcement.
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