U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.-15) have introduced the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act, a bill intended to prohibit illegal immigrants employed as armed law enforcement officers from possessing firearms or ammunition supplied by government entities such as police departments. The legislation aims to reinforce current federal law, which already bars illegal immigrants from possessing firearms or ammunition in the United States.
“Illegal aliens have no Second Amendment rights. It is irresponsible for police departments to arm illegal aliens who have blatantly ignored our immigration laws with firearms and ammunition, let alone on the taxpayers’ dime. Federal law already prohibits those who enter our country illegally from possessing firearms, and it’s time we ensure illegal aliens working at local police departments are held to the same legal standard,” said Senator Budd.
“Sanctuary policies in states like Illinois have gone so far as to allow illegal aliens to wear the badge and carry a firearm. That is a disgrace to every honorable officer and a threat to public safety. Law enforcement authority must be reserved for those who respect and uphold our laws, not those who are in violation of them,” said Representative Miller.
“Illegal aliens do not have the right to possess firearms or ammunition in America. The Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act would ensure local police departments that try to hire illegal aliens cannot provide them with guns or ammunition,” said Senator Blackburn.
“This is common sense. Illegal aliens who have already broken our nation’s laws should certainly not be carrying a badge or a firearm. We hold our brave men and women in law enforcement to the highest standards and the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act will only bolster those standards,” said Senator Mullin.
“No one who enters the U.S. illegally should get to enjoy our God-given constitutional rights, including the right to keep and bear arms. This bill would close a loophole in current law to ensure illegal aliens cannot possess firearms or ammunition, and I’m glad to support it,” said Senator Cornyn.
Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) also joined as co-sponsors of the bill in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, several lawmakers supported its introduction, including Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.-09), Clay Higgins (R-La.-03), Chip Roy (R-Texas-21), Mike Ezell (R-Miss-04), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.-05), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.-at-large), Barry Moore (R-Ala.-01), Randy Fine (R-Fla.-04), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.-04), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.-08), Russell Fry (R-S.C.-07), Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.-10), Mike Collins (R-Ga.-10), Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.-02), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.-13), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio-06), and Cory Mills (R-Fla.-07).
The bill has received endorsements from Gun Owners of America, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Federation for American Immigration Reform, and Immigration Accountability Project.
According to recent reports cited by lawmakers backing this measure, some U.S. law enforcement agencies have hired undocumented immigrants as police officers following changes in state laws such as California’s 2022 legislation allowing non-citizens—including undocumented individuals—to serve as officers. Reports indicate that about a dozen undocumented immigrants were hired as police officers across California agencies including Los Angeles Police Department in 2023; other incidents include arrests by ICE of alleged undocumented immigrant officers at agencies such as Hanover Park Police Department in Illinois, Old Orchard Beach Police Department in Maine, and an alleged undocumented recruit at New Orleans Police Department Academy who had been issued a firearm.
The proposed legislation includes exceptions that preserve existing provisions for foreign police officers visiting for official purposes or visitors admitted specifically for hunting trips or shooting competitions.
