The Danbury, Connecticut, city council has approved an ordinance allowing non-citizen legal residents and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to serve as police officers. The vote, which passed 18-2, came after a week of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the area that resulted in more than 60 arrests.
Council member Joe Britton, a Democrat, stated that the decision "sends a message to our immigrant community at large that you are welcome in Danbury." He emphasized that the change allows otherwise qualified individuals who are lawfully present in the U.S. to apply and compete for police positions without lowering department standards. All applicants must still meet the same rigorous training, background, character, and certification requirements as other candidates.
Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, who immigrated to the U.S. as a child and became a citizen in 2017, expressed his support for the measure, noting that it expands the recruitment pool for a diverse city and allows talented individuals who understand and care about the community to serve.
According to a spokesperson for the Danbury city government, the amendment aligns with Connecticut's Police Officer Standards and Training Council guidelines, which partially waived the citizenship requirement in 2020. This change is already followed by over 30 municipalities in Connecticut and several other states, allowing legal permanent residents and DACA recipients to apply to become officers.
The ICE operations in Danbury prompted public outcry, including from city officials who condemned the agency's actions. Mayor Alves, Governor Ned Lamont, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, and Senator Chris Murphy attended a public gathering to address the raids.
In separate incidents last year, ICE arrested two individuals who were serving as police officers despite allegedly being in the U.S. illegally. Jon Luke Evans, a Jamaican national, was arrested in Maine on charges related to unlawfully attempting to purchase a gun, and Radule Bojovic of Montenegro was arrested in Illinois during a federal operation.