A new Illinois law will allow non-citizens to become police officers in the state.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 3751 into law Monday, WTVO-TV reports. The new law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
Under the new law, non-citizens with work permits will be allowed to become police officers. Illinois' law bypasses federal legislation that prohibits non-citizens from holding law enforcement positions.
“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 at a press conference.
The bill has been highly criticized by opponents as opening the door to allow illegal migrants to work as police officers. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Mary Miller have spoken out against the measure, as well as former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, who claimed the legislation "defies common sense that non-citizens should be arresting and detaining legal citizens," according to WMAQ-TV.
Pritzker has pushed back on the criticism, pointing to states like California that have similar measures. He also said that DACA recipients and other legal permanent residents already serve in the military.
“I am tired of the right wing twisting things,” said Pritzker. “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.”
Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police supported the measure. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police had initially opposed the bill, but the group changed to a neutral stance.
