Illinois will allow some non-citizens to be police

A new law introduced in Illinois allows certain non-citizens to apply for police officer jobs.

But, they must be legally authorised to both work and carry a firearm in the country.

Immigration law experts say this includes lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, as well as those in the country with permanent legal status but not yet full citizens, such as refugees and asylees.

Those on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, are technically listed as eligible but they're currently prohibited from possessing firearms.

Social media users are falsely claiming a new Illinois law will allow anyone who enters the country illegally to pursue a job in law enforcement.

The legislation Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed last month, which takes effect next year, clearly states that only non-citizens who have work authorisation and are legally permitted to carry a firearm qualify.

“An individual who is not a citizen but is legally authorised to work in the United States under federal law is authorised to apply for the position of police officer, subject to all requirements and limitations, other than citizenship, to which other applicants are subject,” the law reads.

State Representative Barbara Hernandez, an Aurora Democrat who sponsored the bill, HB3751, said those in the country illegally don't qualify because they can't legally obtain firearms. Under federal law, only US citizens, lawful permanent residents and other people lawfully in the country can possess guns.

Immigrants who would likely meet the criteria of the new law include green card holders and, potentially, those granted asylum, refugee or other permanent status, said Lauren Aronson, director of the Immigration Law Clinic at the University of Illinois College of Law in Champaign.

Those on temporary status, such as foreign nationals in the country on student, tourist and employment-based visas, would not qualify, she said.

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