*A bill removing the citizenship requirement for aspiring officers was recently signed into law by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The move has angered critics who are outraged that illegal immigrants may soon be able to arrest Americans, Fox News reports.
Chicago Alderman Anthony Napolitano expressed concern about Illinois House Bill 3751 during an appearance on “Fox & Friends First.”
“This is just another statement that Illinois is always trying to be the most progressive state that there is, and nothing’s ever done for the Illinois people,” Napolitano told Carley Shimkus Tuesday. “It’s always done for political agenda.”
“This is going to set a standard now that you’re going to be looking at non-residents, non-citizens in the United States, that are going to be locking up citizens of the United States,” he continued. “This is a mouthful for Illinois folks to swallow right now. Doesn’t seem like it’s done in the best intention of people from Illinois or even it from this country.”
Despite heavy opposition from GOP lawmakers and prominent police organizations, Bill 3751 will take effect on January 1, 2024.
The bill “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,” HB3751 reads. The new law will also allow non-U.S. citizens to obtain and possess a firearm.
In light of the sweeping staffing shortages and rampant crime that many departments in the state are facing, Napolitano called the new law a “slap in the face” to those living in the state.
“I took the test in 1997. One of the questions I had to answer is if I am a citizen. What else are they going to remove from the standards of these tests? Are they going to remove the required education level that you’re supposed to have? If so, think of the thousands and thousands of Illinois folks that took these tests that did not get on the job because of that,” Napolitano said.
“Now they’re pulling out standards, and they’re going to hire people that aren’t even residents or citizens of the United States, and you’re passing over all these Illinois people that could have been on these jobs, could have filled these positions, and we would not have in a hole in our judicial system or in our police departments for lack of officers,” he continued. “It’s just a slap in Illinois people’s face.”
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) released a statement condemning the law saying, “What message does this legislation send when it allows people who do not have legal status to become the enforcers of our laws? This is a potential crisis of confidence in law enforcement at a time when our officers need all the public confidence they can get.”
According to Napolitano, the law is a political ploy to increase Democratic support.
“The standard of this move right now is to bring as many people in this country as you possibly can, given this type of opportunity, but then point back at the party that did it for you and next thing you know, everyone is just going to vote Democrat,” Napolitano said. “This is a move. This is a political move. That’s all this is.”
Pritzker has slammed critics of the new legislation.
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