American citizens could soon be arrested by non-U.S. citizens in Illinois after Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law that will allow illegal immigrants to become police officers in the state.
After the signing of Illinois House Bill 3751 by the governor on Friday, U.S. citizenship will no longer be a requirement to serve as a police officer in the state of Illinois starting January 1, 2024.
House Bill 3751 states, “An individual who is not a citizen but is legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law is authorized to apply for the position of police officer, subject to all requirements and limitations, other than citizenship, to which other applicants are subject.”
The law also states that non-U.S. citizens are required to be able to purchase, carry, and possess a firearm legally in order to apply to be a police officer.
Despite federal law prohibiting non-U.S. citizens from serving as police officers and deputies, illegal immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals will be eligible to apply for a position as a police officer, according to Fox News.
Media personality Collin Rugg summarized the opposition to Pritzker’s bill by Republicans and law enforcement, stating, “Imagine getting arrested by someone who illegally entered the country… Clown world.”
Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) also voiced opposition to her state’s decision, tweeting, “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. No sane state would allow foreign nationals to arrest their citizens, this is madness!”
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Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) pointed out the irony of the Illinois law, which allows people who are breaking the law just by being in the United States illegally to arrest American citizens. Boebert warned that the United States needs to address the southern border crisis or risk allowing the country to “descend further into a Leftist dystopia.”
According to Fox News, the Fraternal Order of Police previously spoke out against the Illinois bill after Democrats passed it in the Illinois state House.
“What message does this legislation send when it allows people who do not have legal status to become the enforcers of our laws?” the Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement. “This is a potential crisis of confidence in law enforcement at a time when our officers need all the public confidence they can get.”
