As of January 1st 2024, in Illinois, you can be a police officer without being an American citizen!
Historically, when a state uses foreign armed forces, it never ends well for the natives. This lesson has eluded Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, who signed a bill a few hours ago that permits non-U.S. citizens to serve as police officers in the state. The bill, known as Illinois House Bill 3751, eliminates the requirement for U.S. citizenship as a qualification for the job. Despite facing opposition from GOP lawmakers and prominent police groups, the new law will take effect on January 1, 2024. According to HB3751, individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law can now apply for the position of police officer, as long as they can meet all other requirements and limitations imposed on other applicants, excluding citizenship. Non-U.S. citizens applying for the job must also be able to obtain, carry, purchase, or possess a firearm under federal law.
Critics of the law argue that allowing foreign nationals to arrest American citizens is a “fundamentally bad idea”. Illinois Representative Mary Miller, a Republican, expressed her outrage on X….
… as did Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert:
Despite these concerns, the bill has been signed into law.
