Gov. J.B. Pritzker has already signed a law to allow certain non-citizens to become police officers in Illinois. Now, the state’s two U.S. senators want the same for the U.S. military. Many Republicans oppose the idea.
House Bill 3751, allowing certain non-citizens with work permits or who are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients to be police officers, passed the Illinois General Assembly with bipartisan support during the spring session. The measure had the backing of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Now, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, wants the same for the U.S. military through a measure brought forward by Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Schaumburg. U.S. Senate Resolution 2401, known as the Enlist Act, was introduced on July 19. It remains in the U.S. Senate Committee of the Judiciary.