In California, one of the requirements to be a police officer is to be a citizen or permanent resident, but under a new bill, other immigrant groups with a valid work permit such as the beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), asylum seekers and refugees, could also become part of the ranks of the police corporations.
Under the SB measure 960 from Santa Rosa Democratic Senator Nancy Skinner, any immigrant with a work permit, you could qualify to become a police officer.
Only undocumented immigrants would be left out.
“This measure only allows those who live here legally and have the legal capacity to work through a visa, or a permanent resident card can become police officers”, specified Senator Skinner.
He stressed that the SB 848 would bring California in line with other states by removing the hurdle faced by people with full clearance to work as police officers.
The past 22 Last March, this bill was presented during the hearing of the Senate Public Safety Committee, where it was approved with 4 votes in favor and 1 against by the Republican senator from Yucaipa, Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh.
The analysis made by the Public Safety Committee indicates that this measure will allow those who are not citizens, but have a valid work permit to obtain employment, to be police officers in California.
The categories of non-citizens with work authorization that would benefit include asylees, refugees, and individuals protected by the DACA program.
Current laws prohibit non-citizens from joining, for example, the California Highway Patrol. Skinner’s bill, if signed into law by the governor, would remove that prohibition.
Measure is sponsored by the University of California, and is supported by the California Police Chiefs Association and the California Public Defenders Association.
The next legislative step is to be voted on by the full Senate in approximately one month; and then it would be presented for vote in the Assembly. Once passed in both chambers, it would be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature or veto.
Police in California include city cops, highway cops, to those of the university or school campuses, to those of the ports, those of probation and those of the prisons.
The analysis of the bill indicates that these professions are in a critical intersection between the community and the law.
“In a state where diversity continues to grow, where 220 languages, California needs police officers who can communicate effectively and relate well to their community”, indicates the analysis of the law.
Skinner, the author of the measure added that the SB 960 will help make California’s police agencies more culturally diverse.
In recent years, California has opened numerous avenues for non-citizens to enter a multitude of careers.
Laws have been passed that allow non-citizen residents to pay the same tuition as California residents (AB 540 in 2001) at the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and community colleges; and obtain driver’s licenses (AB 60 in 2013).
On the other hand, undocumented immigrants are eligible to be members of the State Bar of California, and if they pass their exams, they can practice as lawyers under AB law 1024 from 2013; they can also practice medicine as doctors or nurses and receive professional licenses from 43 state boards and offices under the Department of Consumer Affairs, according to the SB law 1159 from 2016.
However, there is a profession that remains beyond the reach of non- citizens in California: serving as law enforcement officers in the cities and communities where they grew up.
Reactions
Professor Armando Vázquez Ramos, coordinator of the California Mexico Students Center, who has taken hundreds of DACA students on study trips to Mexico, said that many DACA recipients have not even considered being a police officer because of all the barriers that exist. at the federal level and in the state itself so that they can be.
“This proposal if it becomes law, it would be an indication that he begins to see the justice that the dreamers have searched for so many years.”
Estefany Méndez, a DACA youth, who works as a news producer for television in English, said that this measure will provide new opportunities to the immigrant community, especially those who have wanted to work in the police environment, but have not been able to because of their immigration status.
He considered that he will benefit in the same way as the laws that allow in California, the dreamers can practice law and be nurses and doctors. “It has provided thousands of opportunities. Thanks to DACA I have been able to make a career as a journalist; and with the advance parole, I have been able to travel to Mexico to make coverage”.
He recalled that DACA and any other beneficiary of a work permit, have their criminal history checked and must pay taxes.
“The rules for the dreamers are higher than for those born in this country, who do not value being a citizen as much as we do. So we make an effort to comply with them and work with dignity”.
Hopefully, he says, that this measure becomes law, and could be applied at the national level.
“ It will bring a new perspective to police agencies, at a time when there is much disagreement over excessive force and racism. They can help restore trust between law enforcement agencies and communities that often live in the shadows”.