The Los Angeles Police Chief, Michel Moore, has announced that the department is taking the lead on a unique immigration challenge by allowing non-citizen DACA recipients to carry firearms full-time. This decision comes as the United States faces a record number of migrant encounters at the southern border. The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners has unanimously approved the outline of a policy that would grant DACA recipients the ability to carry a firearm off-duty. However, the policy has not been finalized and may take weeks or months to become official.
The topic of DACA recipients working as police officers raises legal and safety questions. Some concerns include whether a non-citizen should be able to arrest a US citizen and what would happen if a DACA recipient loses their legal status. Chief Moore believes that DACA recipients should not lose their status and that they are fully functional members of society. He argues that they work, pay taxes, and act responsibly, making them qualified to carry firearms and serve as police officers.
Allowing DACA recipients to carry weapons is seen as a safety issue by the LAPD. As they often work in the communities they police, not allowing them to carry firearms could potentially jeopardize their lives. The LAPD currently has one DACA recipient who recently graduated from the police academy and is ready to start working. Additionally, nine DACA recipients are scheduled to graduate and potentially join the force in the near future. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department also has six DACA recipients who recently graduated from the academy and are sworn peace officers, with nine more in training.
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff, Alex Villanueva, disagrees with the decision to hire DACA recipients in law enforcement. He believes that it is a result of poor leadership and a shrinking recruitment pool. Villanueva argues that legal immigrants should become citizens before joining the force, and hiring DACA recipients puts the “cart before the horse.”
The proposed policy has received support from the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents over 9,200 officers. They believe that police officers should be afforded all legal rights and protections, regardless of whether they are on-duty or off-duty. Other police departments in California are also looking to Los Angeles for guidance, as they consider hiring Dreamers due to a shortage of law enforcement applicants.
In conclusion, the Los Angeles Police Department is considering a policy that would allow DACA recipients to carry firearms as full-time police officers. This decision is met with both support and criticism, with Chief Moore arguing that DACA recipients are valuable members of society who deserve the opportunity to serve as police officers, while others believe that it is a result of poor leadership and lower hiring standards. The proposed policy is still being finalized and may take some time before it becomes official.
