State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) has voiced strong opposition to HB3751 which would grant foreign nationals the authority to arrest U.S. citizens.
HB3751 has drawn criticism from various police organizations. Miller took to Facebook to express his concerns, calling the measure a "disaster of a law" and arguing that allowing non-citizens to detain citizens would undermine the fundamental principles of the Republic.
“HB3751, a disaster of a law that faces opposition from several police groups, gives foreign nationals the power to arrest US citizens,” Miller said in a statement. “Allowing non-citizens to arrest and detain citizens is disgraceful, and completely erodes the foundation of our Republic.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the law on Friday, July 28. State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), argued the law poses a fundamental breach of democracy by granting non-citizens the power to arrest and detain U.S. citizens.
“This is just a foundational thing. I get that everybody is running away from law enforcement in Chicago because of everything the state of Illinois has done to law enforcement in Chicago,” Rose said during the debate on the bill, according to The Center Square. “But to backfill that and hand the power to arrest and detain a citizen of this state or any state in the United States to a non-citizen is a fundamental breach of democracy.”
The law goes into effect on Jan. 1. It applies to undocumented residents “legally authorized under federal law to work in the United States and is authorized under federal law to obtain, carry, or purchase or otherwise possess a firearm, or who is an individual against whom immigration action has been deferred by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process and is authorized under federal law to obtain, carry, or purchase or otherwise possess a firearm."
The roll call vote shows Miller was joined only by fellow Republicans Dan Caulkins, Jed Davis, Brad Halbrook, Adam Niemerg, Tom Weber, and Blaine Wilhour in voting no, according to ilga.gov.
Alerts Sign-up