Illinois Governor Pritzker Enacts Controversial Laws, Including Non-Citizens as Police Officers and Indoor E-Cigarette Ban
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a bill into law that allows non-U.S. citizens, including those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act, to become police officers in the state. The bill, which will go into effect on January 1, 2024, removes U.S. citizenship as a requirement for the position. Critics argue that allowing foreigners to arrest American citizens is a "fundamentally bad idea," while supporters see it as a natural progression following the federal decision to allow some undocumented immigrants to work in healthcare and the military. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential impact on public confidence in law enforcement.