Danbury Council Allows Noncitizens to Apply as Police

The Danbury, Connecticut, City Council voted 18-2 to allow lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients to apply for city police jobs. Supporters, including council member Joe Britton and Mayor Roberto Alves, said the change welcomes immigrant residents and does not alter background checks, psychological and medical screenings, training, or other hiring standards. The vote followed federal immigration-enforcement operations in the region, which supporters said had created fear in immigrant communities. Opponents argued that police officers’ authority to carry firearms, detain people, and make arrests should be limited to U.S. citizens and questioned the long-term eligibility of DACA recipients. The decision has become part of a broader national debate over citizenship requirements for law-enforcement officers.