Lawmakers have advanced a measure that will soon be sent to the governor's desk that would allow certain immigrants to become police officers in Illinois.
Current federal law prohibits a non-U.S. citizen from becoming a police offer throughout the country. House Bill 3751 looks to change that law in Illinois.
The measure states that any immigrant who the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has deferred under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process is allowed to apply for the position of a police officer, deputy sheriff or special police officer.
The measure was amended by the Senate on Thursday and received pushback from Republican lawmakers.
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, criticized the idea of a non-citizen being able to arrest a U.S. citizen in Illinois.
"To hand the power to arrest and detain a citizen of this state, or a citizen of any state in the United States, to a non-citizen is a fundamental breach of democracy," Rose said. "It is antithetical to the police power of any state."
The Senate amended the bill so it must return to the House before it can be sent to Gov. (((J.B. Pritzker))) for approval.
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2023/05/21/lawmakers-advance-bill-that-would-allow-non-citizens-to-be-police-officers-in-illinois/