New Democrat Law Allows Non-Citizens to Join Illinois Police.
Non-U.S. Citizens Can Now Serve as Police Officers in Illinois
A police officer in Chicago / Getty Images
Exciting news for Illinois! Non-U.S. citizens can now pursue a career in law enforcement as police officers, thanks to a recent legislation signed into law by Democratic governor J.B. Pritzker.
The new law, Illinois House Bill 3751, removes U.S. citizenship as a requirement for becoming a police officer. This move comes as the state faces police shortages and increasing crime rates in its major cities. Similar to states like California and Colorado, Illinois is opening its doors to non-citizen applicants who are legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
The legislation states that non-citizen applicants must meet all other requirements and limitations, except for citizenship, that other applicants are subject to. Additionally, they must be eligible under federal law to possess a firearm.
While this development has received criticism from Republican lawmakers, with some calling it “madness,” Governor Pritzker defends the law, emphasizing that it only applies to individuals who are legally allowed to work and possess a gun in the United States.
Furthermore, recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are also eligible to become police officers under this new law. DACA protects children of undocumented immigrants from deportation if they meet certain criteria.
The law will go into effect on January 1, 2024, opening up new opportunities and diversifying the law enforcement community in Illinois.
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