Washington Police Department Recruiting Illegal Immigrants
Washington state is openly recruiting illegal immigrants to law enforcement positions and other civil servant positions, according to a report from News Nation.
The Seattle Police Department is recruiting immigrants who came to the country illegally as minors and received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status under the Obama administration. Following a shortage of police officers in Seattle, the police department opted to open applications to individuals with DACA status.
A recently passed state Senate bill also allows DACA recipients to apply for firefighting positions, wildlife officer jobs, and county sheriff deputy positions.
DACA recipients, commonly referred to as “Dreamers,” are not considered citizens with lawful status.
Seattle saw a marked decrease in law enforcement positions following the summer of 2020 when the city allowed autonomous zones to plague the downtown area. Staffing dropped from 1,400 sworn officers in 2017 to less than 1,050 in 2023. Per News Nation estimates, more than 14,000 DACA recipients reside in Washington.
Some people argue that DACA recipients could fill the manpower gap in Washington law enforcement. Others argue that DACA recipients who are willing to contribute to society in a meaningful way are important to cultural assimilation.
Jason Rantz, a Washington state radio host, noted that police departments would need policy shifts to hire DACA recipients to the police force. New guidance from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) states that DACA recipients are allowed to “carry agency/department-issued firearms and ammunition while on duty,” though they “must relinquish possession at the end of each duty period/shift.”
Other states such as Illinois, Colorado, and California passed laws to allow DACA recipients to apply for law enforcement jobs. New Jersey and Wisconsin are currently considering legislation of the same nature.
A similar law was passed in Virginia but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.
