JB Pritzker approves law permitting noncitizens to serve as police officers in Illinois.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Faces Conservative Scrutiny Over New Law Allowing Non-U.S. Citizens to Become Police Officers
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) is under fire from conservatives after signing a groundbreaking law that will open up law enforcement jobs to non-U.S. citizens. Republican lawmakers argue that this move will allow illegal immigrants to become police officers.
Pritzker recently signed H.B. 3751 into law, following its successful passage through both chambers of the General Assembly. Despite opposition from GOP officials at the state and national level, Illinois’s Democratic trifecta enables progressive policies to become law.
The New Law: Opening Doors for Non-Citizens
Under H.B. 3751, starting from January 1, 2024, “individuals who are not citizens, but are legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law” will be eligible to apply for positions within police departments.
This provision has sparked outrage among Republicans, with state Rep. Mary Miller describing it as “madness.”
“At 5 p.m. yesterday, 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,” she tweeted. “No sane state would allow foreign nationals to arrest their citizens, this is madness!”
National Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), have also voiced their opposition to the new law. Boebert took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to criticize the legislation, stating, “In the state of Illinois, illegals can now become police officers. Yes, you heard that right. People who are breaking the law by their presence here can now arrest American citizens.”
Boebert further warned that other blue states might follow suit, saying, “You know the other blue states are watching and getting ready to implement this idea as soon as they can! We either address this border crisis or allow our country to descend further into a Leftist dystopia.”
However, the bill did receive support from the Illinois Municipal League and the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police initially opposed the measure but later changed its stance to neutrality.
Defending the new law, Gov. Pritzker emphasized during a press conference that it would only apply to individuals who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. and are also legally allowed to 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,” he said.
Pritzker also pushed back against Republicans, accusing them of distorting the legislation and spreading misinformation.
“I am tired of the right wing twisting things,” he said. “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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