Wisconsin bill would allow DACA recipients to become city police officers

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Some undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children are protected from deportation and are provided work permits through a program known as DACA or Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals. However, DACA recipients in Wisconsin are not currently allowed to serve as city police officers and/or county sheriff's deputies; that is why a bill is proposing to change that.

"We have the support from our law enforcement, from our district attorneys, from our social workers, from the public defenders, they're all for this," Sen. Jesse James told CBS 58 News.

Republican State Senator James is one of the co-sponsors of Senate Bill 78 -- a proposal that has been in the works since 2019.

It was reintroduced in the assembly earlier this year and passed with bipartisan support.

"We have what? Approximately...6,500 DACA individuals, so it's not even something that would be that detrimental," he said.

As it stands, the law requires applicants for city police officers and county sheriff's deputies to be born in the U.S.

Sen. James is the only active law enforcement officer in the state Legislature and said this narrows the pool of qualified applicants.

Critics argue Senate Bill 78 could set a dangerous precedent. They say asking DACA recipients to patrol and arrest members of their own community would create social divisions in an already at-risk population.

"If you're a DACA recipient, you are more than likely in a mixed immigration status family, and it can actually put you in a situation where you literally could be pulling over a family or a friend," said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director at Voces de la Frontera.

Neumann-Ortiz said a simple driving infraction can result in deportation. While SB-78 would create more opportunities and representation in the police force, she argues it ignores a broader issue that should be prioritized before this proposal is even considered.

"It's just one piece of a much larger problem, and in the larger context, what the immigrant community has been asking here in Wisconsin is for restoring state driver's licenses, so that's something that, you know, will build trust in local law enforcement right now," she added.

The bill now awaits a Senate hearing before it is considered on the floor for final approval.