Foreigners Can Now Become Law Enforcement and Arrest U.S. Citizens in Illinois – The

On Aug 1, 2023

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law allowing foreigners with work permits to become law enforcement — and arrest U.S. citizens. Foreigners without work permits are not eligible to join the police force.

Illinois House Bill 3751 states:

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that 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….

Provides that an individual who is not a citizen but is legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law who is authorized to apply for the position of police officer or sheriff shall also be subject to federal approval to obtain, carry, or purchase or otherwise possess a firearm.

The bill is part of a response to staffing shortages in Illinois, particularly in metro areas such as Chicago. On Juneteenth weekend alone, 13 people were killed, and a further 75 people were wounded by gunfire, according to local Chicago news outlet WGN9. (READ MORE: The U.S. Bishops’ Celebration of Illegal Immigration)

Law Enforcement Recruitment Woes Led to Current Law

Chicago’s interim police Superintendent Fred Waller explained that criminals feel “emboldened” during the day due to a lack of law enforcement personnel.

“We plan for things happening more in the evening,” Waller told WGN9. “We do have officers out in the daytime also, of course, but we’re dealing with a lot of people who are just emboldened and they’re shooting people recklessly in the daytime also.”

Illinois police groups, such as the Fraternal Order of Police, criticized the bill, and some representatives of Illinois tweeted out their outrage.

At 5pm 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!

— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) July 29, 2023

Migration to Chicago accelerated after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began busing illegal immigrants to other states as part of an effort to highlight the crisis at the border. Chicago now has 11,500 immigrants, the editorial board of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Last week, Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) said in a letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson that residents near the Gage Park field house, where 277 migrants are being housed, are “reaching a boiling point” with concerns about drug use and sales, prostitution and gang recruitment.

And at a hearing on Wednesday, Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) and downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) expressed similar frustrations. Reilly said some migrants have acquired guns.

Chicago residents have complained about illegal immigrants and the burden they place on the city’s communities, saying that the migrants engage in fights, prostitution, littering, loitering, and late-night partying.

“Tell the issue about the people who are outside threatening [residents],” Alderman Jeanette Taylor told Fox News. “Tell them about the sex trafficking that’s happening. The drug dealing that’s happening. They’re outside smoking weed. They’re outside having whole parties right in front of the senior building. And the police are scared. Let’s be honest.”

Elizabeth Crawford is a rising senior at Hillsdale College studying politics. A member of The American Spectator’s 2023 intern class, Elizabeth enjoys drinking good tea and plans to pursue a career in journalism.

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