The lawmakers in Virginia are currently pondering over a bill that proposes allowing individuals under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act (DACA) status to seamlessly integrate into law enforcement.
While this idea may appear well-intentioned on the surface, it raises serious concerns and warrants careful evaluation. One must critically examine the potential consequences associated with such a proposal before embracing it.
Democratic State Senator Jeremy McPike is sponsoring a bill that aims to allow “Dreamers” to become officers and deputies. Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham has expressed to lawmakers that this initiative could significantly assist in recruitment efforts and lead to a more diverse police force that accurately represents the community.
“If you have somebody on the scene who speaks the language and they can translate immediately, it gives us ability to get to the bottom of crimes more quickly,” he said.
While Colorado and California have managed to enact laws allowing noncitizens with work authorization to serve as officers, other states attempting similar legislation have been stymied by a federal law that prohibits DACA recipients from owning firearms. It’s a frustrating contradiction that highlights the inconsistency in our legal system.
Newsham stated that the legislation should not be an obstacle. He explained, “The current federal statute already allows members of law enforcement to carry guns, so there is already an exception in place. Therefore, that hurdle has already been cleared.”
The obstacle is and should be whether or not Americans want to be policed by illegal aliens and non-citizens. This should be a problem for everyone. If they were invested in America, why didn’t they take citizenship?
A Senate committee voted to advance the bill for further consideration.
