Illinois legislators seek to utilize non-citizens for military, police despite pushback | 11 Dec 2023 | Gov. J.B. Pritzker has already signed a law to allow certain non-citizens to become police officers in Illinois. Now, the state's two U.S. senators want the same for the U.S. military. Many Republicans oppose the idea. House Bill 3751, allowing certain non-citizens with work permits or who are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients to be police officers, passed the Illinois General Assembly with bipartisan support during the spring session. Now, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, wants the same for the U.S. military through a measure brought forward by Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Schaumburg. Some in Illinois are against Illinois' police measure that was passed in August and any new legislation that seeks to do anything similar. "I am a firm believer that we should be protected by the citizens of this country and not by folks that are non-citizens," state Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, told The Center Square. "If you look at the bill that the governor signed, that was one of my few no votes."