By Joanna Putman
Police1
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Police Association (NPA) has announced its support for the Citizen-Only Police Act of 2024, a federal bill that would prohibit law enforcement agencies that hire non-citizens from receiving federal funds, the organization announced in a press release.
Currently, most law enforcement agencies in the U.S. require police hires to be U.S. citizens, though some states, including North Dakota and Washington, allow lawful permanent residents to apply, according to the release. Recently, states like Colorado and Illinois have extended eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and California allows migrants with temporary asylum to apply.
The NPA raised concerns over alleged security risks of allowing non-citizens to serve as police officers, particularly regarding inadequate screening of applicants’ “criminal activity from their countries of origin,” according to the release.
“State bills that extend hiring to non-citizens are being presented as a solution to severe police staffing shortages,” said Paula Fitzsimmons, legislative director of the National Police Association. “Legislators should instead resolve the factors prompting thousands of qualified men and woman of all demographics to leave law enforcement or not consider it as a profession.”
The NPA identifies itself as a 501(C)3 non-profit advocacy organization, “founded to educate supporters of law enforcement in how to help police departments accomplish their goals,” according to its website.
