The Wisconsin State Assembly has passed legislation allowing illegal-alien recipients of the unconstitutional Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to become law-enforcement officers in the state.
Last Wednesday, the Assembly voted to pass Assembly Bill 51 (A.B. 51). The vote was nearly unanimous, with only four representatives — Ty Bodden (R-Hilbert), Joy Goeben (R-Hobart), Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon), and Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers) — voting “No.” A.B. 51 will now be considered by the state Senate, which must also pass the bill before sending it to Governor Tony Evers. A companion bill, Senate Bill 78 (S.B. 78), has also been introduced in the Senate.
Under current state law, only U.S. citizens may become police officers and deputy sheriffs. However, if enacted, A.B. 51 and S.B. 78 would create a loophole allowing DACA recipients to become law-enforcement officers. The bills would also allow DACA recipients to participate in law-enforcement training programs.
DACA is a program, created and administered by the federal government, that grants quasi-amnesty to illegal migrants who entered the United States as minors.
In a statement to The New American about A.B. 51, Representative Bodden stated, “This bill that passed the Assembly with only four ‘no’ votes sets a bad precedent. The DACA program is unconstitutional and states should not embrace it. Rather, they should refuse to comply with unconstitutional federal acts. Non-American citizens should not be enforcing our laws by issuing citations or arresting Americans.”
By opening the door for non-citizens to become law-enforcement officers, A.B. 51 and S.B. 78 indeed set a dangerous precedent. The bills also are a slippery slope toward making U.S. citizenship meaningless — and this will help enable a merger of the United States with other countries, on the road toward one-world government.
Additionally, locally controlled police are integral to a free society — and by local control, this means controlled and staffed by citizens of the locality, not individuals who illegally reside in the United States.
Finally, DACA is a blatantly illegal program, unilaterally started by President Barack Obama solely because Congress refused to bow to his leftist wish list. Although President Donald Trump had vowed to rescind the program, he failed to do so, and the U.S. Supreme Court even kept it in force, albeit dodging the question of constitutionality.
Although A.B. 51 passed the Wisconsin Assembly, the Senate still can stop it. Rather than supporting such legislation, the Wisconsin Legislature would be wise to support legislation that cracks down on illegal migration, restores the value of U.S. citizenship, and strengthens local control over police.
Wisconsin residents can contact their legislators in opposition to A.B. 51 and S.B. 78 by visiting The John Birch Society’s legislative alert here. Everyone can take action to defend locally controlled law enforcement by visiting JBS’s action project page here.