Illinois Sheriff Sounds the Alarm After State’s Governor Signs New Bill Allowing Non-US Citizens To Become Police Officers

Original article here.

Sheriff Jeff Bullard of Jefferson County, Illinois, has issued a stern warning regarding the potential hazards of noncitizens becoming law enforcement officers.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Bullard responded to a new law signed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker which would allow noncitizens to serve as police officers. Bullard cautioned that this new policy could lead to lowered standards in the law enforcement community and may prompt unforeseen complications.

“If an immigrant wants to be a peace officer in this country, then go through the naturalization process, become a citizen, and then apply,” he said.

The sheriff emphasizes the critical role of peace officers in the United States and, therefore, the utmost need for rigorous vetting.

“Being a peace officer in Illinois or any other state is one of the most trusted positions in government that our citizens have because a peace officer can not only infringe upon constitutional rights while investigating a crime or enforcing laws,” Bullard said. “The citizens give us the authority to do that.”

“They also grant us the authority to possibly take a life when circumstances warrant it’s needed to save a life,” he continued. “That’s a huge responsibility and a very trusted position.”

Federal legislation currently prohibits noncitizens from serving as police officers or deputies, yet the new Illinois law stands in apparent defiance of the federal standards. This new law, due to take effect on January 1, also extends eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

This recent change does not sit well with Bullard. He finds the stipulations outlined in the legislation inadequate to uphold the standards needed for hiring officers.

“It’s a case of putting the cart before the horse,” Bullard said. “If the government would come up with a proper vetting procedure for a peace officer before introducing something like this, where we could be 100% certain, just like we are in a background of a naturalized citizen, then it would be something that we would be more comfortable with.”

Rep. Barbara Hernandez, the bill’s sponsor, views the move as a logical extension of the 2021 federal decision allowing some undocumented immigrants to work in healthcare and military roles. Despite this, critics remain worried about noncitizens arresting Americans.

A significant concern Bullard points out is the troubling paradox that arises when a noncitizen takes an oath to uphold the Constitution of a state and a country of which they are not a citizen.

“There’s a problem with that,” he said.

Recent reforms in Illinois, including the passing of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act — which eliminates cash bail, restricts when defendants can be considered flight risks, and prevents police from arresting nonviolent trespassers — also raise issues. Bullard remarked that he has witnessed an increasing trend towards less criminal accountability and consequences for offenders during his three-decade tenure in law enforcement.

This string of reforms, according to Bullard, overlooks sound systems in place and expert advice warning of possible issues with these reform ideas.

“I think that our state government, because of politics, is ignoring sound systems we already have in place,” he says, adding that expert advice regarding potential issues is also being overlooked.