Chambana Sun

The Illinois bill that would allow non-citizens to apply to work as police officers has received pushback since it was introduced. After its signing last week, Rep. Chris Miller took to Facebook to react in a July 31 post.

"HB3751, a disaster of a law that faces opposition from several police groups, gives foreign nationals the power to arrest US citizens. Allowing non-citizens to arrest and detain citizens is disgraceful, and completely erodes the foundation of our Republic," Miller said in the post.

House Bill 3751 states 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.” The bill was filed by Rep. Barbara Hernandez on Feb. 17, 2023, moved to the Senate on March 27, and went to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for signature on June 16. The legislature’s official page on the bill does not show that has been signed into law.

Miller shared a link to a Daily Wire story about the bill in his Facebook post. The Daily Wire story focuses on the reaction to the bill before it was signed, including the reaction from the Fraternal Order of Police, which quotes a statement from the group: “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.”

John Coultas, of the Illinois Municipal League, filed witness slips for two hearings on the bill, according to the General Assembly's webpage for witness slips on HB 3751. Geoffery Far, Chief of Police for Blue Island, Mike Cosentino, of the Chicago FOP Lodge 7; and Mitchell Soso Rodriguez, an officer for Blue Island all filed witness slips in support of the bill.

Miller, born June 15, 1954, was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018, according to a legislative bio page. The Republican's legislative experience includes serving on the International Trade & Commerce and International Trade & Commerce.