Seattle has become the latest Democratic-run city trying to replace an exodus of police officers with illegal immigrants.
Washington’s largest city has only 913 police officers to serve its 750,000 residents after losing 725 officers in the last five years.
Now his police department has changed the rules to allow applications from immigrants who crossed the border illegally as children and are registered in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or ‘Dreamers’, program.
And under a law change signed by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee in February, they can be chosen over an equally qualified candidate if they speak more than one language.
“So every person who shows up for an interview has to admit to committing a serious crime,” wrote one retired officer in X. “Should a federal trial be held before any hiring, I guess?”
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation in March that removed the last legal hurdle for illegal immigrant children to join the state’s police departments.
The department now has only 913 police officers to serve its 750,000 residents after losing 725 officers in the last five years, according to an April survey by KUOW.
More than 500,000 people in the United States registered under the Obama-era DACA program before Donald Trump rescinded it in 2017.
While they are allowed to work in the United States with a two-year renewable work permit, firearms restrictions had previously prohibited them from working as police officers.
But in a memo last year, the Justice Department stated that “DACA recipients may possess firearms and ammunition as part of their official law enforcement duties.”
Seattle police previously restricted applications to those who “possess U.S. citizenship OR have lawful permanent residence in the U.S.,” but updated their LinkedIn page last week.
“The Seattle Police Department is now accepting applications from DACA recipients,” it reads.
Overall crime increased by eight per cent in the city between 2019 and 2024, with robberies up 12 per cent, assaults up 21 per cent and murders up an alarming 78 per cent.
On May 29, Police Chief Adrián Díaz was the latest to leave the department amid accusations of sexual harassment and racial discrimination.
It came months after the outgoing officer released a scathing resignation letter accusing him of “failed leadership” that “accelerated this city’s descent into rock bottom.”
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz resigned last month amid allegations of sexual harassment and racial discrimination.
Lt. Jessica Taylor, who served with the Seattle Police Department for 23 years, turned in her notice, but instead of completing a mandatory exit survey, she decided to write a long letter addressed to the police chief.
“His controlling, intimidating and deceitful tendencies have wreaked havoc on this department, driving away talented and dedicated officers,” Lt. Jessica Taylor wrote when she left after 23 years.
“People are being hurt and killed in this city, from the left and the right,” he added.
‘I bet most Seattleites would love to be able to go for a walk at night or walk around downtown Seattle and not be afraid.
There are about 500,000 people registered in the DACA program introduced by then-President Barack Obama in 2012.
But they can’t and it’s your fault. You have failed them. You have failed us.
Four female officers filed a $5 million lawsuit against the department in April for “grooming,” “active sexism” and “predatory behavior,” and one of them named Diaz in her lawsuit.
More drama engulfed the department Monday night when he came out as “a gay Latino man” in an interview with a local radio station.
“I want to make sure people understand who I am,” he told KTTH 770 AM.
‘It’s not easy when you have false accusations against you. I don’t want to have any secrets if I decide to go to another city.’
Joe Biden last week promised to facilitate access to work visas for DACA recipients who have earned a degree from a U.S. college or university and received a high-skilled job offer, and urged Congress to grant them a permanent status.
“Give me a break,” he said at a gathering of Hispanic power brokers at the White Houe Rose Garden.
‘These have been model citizens. Congress has to act.
“We are a nation of immigrants and we must not forget that.”
DACA recipient Mitchell Soto Rodriguez testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month after joining the Blue Island Police Department on Chicago’s South Side.
Joe Biden promised last week to make work visa access easier for DACA recipients who have earned a degree from a U.S. college or university and received a highly skilled job offer, while urging Congress to grant them a permanent status.
Seattle is not the first city to consider DACA immigrants as police officers after Illinois, Colorado and California passed laws allowing them to apply for police jobs.
Ernesto Antonio Morón Uribe, 26, became an officer with California’s UC Davis Police Department in February, and Mitchell Soto Rodríguez testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month after joining the Blue Island Police Department in the south side of Chicago.
She arrived from Mexico when she was eight years old in 2005 and was inspired to become a police officer after witnessing the compassionate approach of an officer who helped her after a car accident.
“Even if it seems difficult or impossible, never give up,” he said when taking the oath. One day it will come to you. Keep fighting for it.
‘If a door closes, keep knocking. Keep calling. It’s going to open.’