Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., has introduced a bill that would strip federal funding from law enforcement agencies employing undocumented immigrants. The proposal aims to mandate U.S. citizenship as a requirement for serving as a police officer.
Cammack cited concerns about recruitment standards in law enforcement, particularly as departments struggle to fill positions. “Departments are so desperate that they’re looking to hire illegals to fill their ranks,” she told Fox News Digital. “It is horrifying.”
Her bill comes amid growing controversy over non-citizens serving in police roles. Recently, ICE arrested a Jamaican national, Jon Luke Evans, for allegedly trying to illegally purchase a firearm while working as a reserve officer in Maine. Evans had overstayed his visa after entering the U.S. legally in 2023 and claimed he needed the weapon for his police duties.
Despite being cleared through the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system, Evans’ employment raised concerns. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the department’s “reckless reliance on E-Verify” insufficient, saying it doesn’t relieve employers of their legal responsibility to verify documentation.
Cammack, whose husband serves as a firefighter and SWAT medic, said her bill reflects frustration within the law enforcement community—especially in the wake of recruitment and retention issues fueled by recent calls to defund police.
The legislation also responds to policies in states like California, Illinois, and Colorado, where non-citizens with legal work authorization—including recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program—are eligible to become police officers.
DACA protects individuals brought to the U.S. as children from deportation, though they don’t have formal legal status. Under Cammack’s proposal, even DACA recipients would be barred from serving in law enforcement.
The bill marks another flashpoint in the national immigration debate, as lawmakers weigh public safety, immigration status, and who should wear the badge.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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