DACA Peace Officers To Work As Armed Police Officers

DACA peace officers who have temporary legal status and have applied for asylum could soon work as armed police officers in the state, American Military News reported.

DACA Peace Officers To Work As Armed Police Officers (PHOTO: 9News)

DACA Peace Officers Allowed To Work As Armed Police

Governor Jared Polis of Colorado signed HB23-1143 into law last Thursday. The bill allows the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board to establish regulations for people with DACA status or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and also asylum seekers to become certified peace officers.

The bill allows sheriff’s departments can change their firearms policies to allow eligible immigrants employed to carry guns and allow those eligible training academies.

People with DACA status were brought to the U.S. since they are a child and have been vetted. They legally work and live in the U.S. The same rigorous process would still have to go through for those who applied for police positions.

This bill does not only allow people with DACA to get their job goals but it will also help diversify police officers.

The state of Colorado was able to pass the new law because of the federal exception allowing the practice.

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DACA Peace Officers Need To Work

The bill was passed in the Senate with a 31-4 vote and 46-18 in the House. Senate Minority Paul Lundeen said that his no vote was a close call. He added that they should do everything and encourage people to become fully vested members of the community. “This is an example of how policy can dilute the motivations to become fully vested – do the work to become a citizen,” he concluded.

Although this may be the case, immigration advocates have argued that there was no clear way to citizenship for those people with DACA status.

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