Illinois Gov. Pritzker allows non-US citizens to become police officers with new law: ‘Fundamentally bad idea’
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a law that allows foreigners to be police officers in Illinois. This angered critics, who called the idea of foreigners arresting American Citizens “a fundamentally terrible idea.”
Illinois House Bill 3750 will remove the requirement of U.S. Citizenship to become a state police officer. The bill, which was signed on Friday by the Democrat Governor, will take effect on January 1, 2020 despite heavy opposition from GOP legislators and prominent police organizations.
The bill states that “an individual who is not a U.S. citizen, but is legally authorized under federal law to work in the United States, is authorized to apply to the position of a police officer subject to all the requirements and limitations other than citizenship that other applicants are bound to,” HB3751. It also adds that non-U.S. Citizens must be able obtain, carry or purchase a firearm, under federal law, before they can apply for the job.
The bill says that immigrants who are still in the country as a result of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act (DACA Act) can also apply for a job to join the law enforcement.
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Federal law prohibits the appointment of non-U.S. citizen police officers and deputy sheriffs.
Illinois Rep. Mary Miller (a Republican) expressed her anger over the new law via Twitter this weekend. She wrote that “no sane country would allow foreigners to arrest its citizens.”
She tweeted: “At 5 pm yesterday, while no one was looking, Pritzker passed a law allowing illegal immigrants to be police officers. This gives non-citizens power to arrest citizens of our state.” “This is insane! No sane country would let foreigners arrest its citizens.”
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), tweeted after the news of the bill passing: “In Illinois, illegals are now able to become police officers.” You heard it right.
Now, people who break the law here by being present can arrest American citizens. She continued, “You know that the other blue-states are watching this and are getting ready to implement it as soon as possible!” “We must address the border crisis, or our country will continue to slide into a Leftist utopia.”
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) also condemned the bill after it passed in the Democratic-controlled state House earlier this month.
The group asked ABC20 in a press release: “What message is sent by this legislation when it allows those who don’t have legal status to enforce our laws?” This is a crisis of public confidence in law enforcement, at a time that our officers are desperate for it.
In May, Illinois Republican State Senator Chapin rose slammed this bill as “a fundamentally poor idea.”
“I don’t care who this person is–Australia. The Daily Wire reported that they should not have the right to arrest an American citizen on US soil.
CBS News reported that Democratic Rep. Barbara Hernandez who sponsored the bill defended it as “a natural progression” from the federal decision in 2021 to allow certain undocumented immigrant workers to be employed as healthcare professionals and military personnel.
Pritzker defended his bill at a press event on Monday. He argued that it would only apply to people who have legal permission to work in the United States, and to those who possess firearms legally, according to NBC Chicago. Pritzker has said that Republicans are misinterpreting the bill’s language.
He said, “I’m tired of right-wingers twisting the truth.” “They post it on Facebook and they lie. Some people think that we allow anyone to become a cop. It’s not true.”
Illinois is grappling with police shortages statewide amid recruitment and retention issues. Chicago Police Department staffing reached its lowest point in March 2022. The department relaxed recruitment requirements, waiving minimum college credits and allowing online testing for some candidates.
Pritzker signed several controversial bills into law over the weekend. The governor also championed a separate bill that empowers the attorney general of the state to crackdown on pregnancy centers who use “deceptive techniques” to divert women looking for an abortion towards alternative care provided by their programs.
The critics of the new law are concerned that the government may use the vagueness in the law to unfairly target pregnancy centers that support life. The Thomas More Society is suing Illinois to challenge the new law.
