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Jemny Marquinez has needed to be a police officer for the reason that age of 12, when she noticed officers from her native police division in Virginia handing out Christmas presents to youngsters.
Marquinez has the fitting {qualifications}, together with a bachelor’s diploma in criminology, however as a result of she isn’t a U.S. citizen, she can not work as a police officer in Virginia. A bill authorized by the state Senate Tuesday would change that by permitting recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act, often called DACA, to become eligible for jobs in legislation enforcement.
Marquinez, 24, has lived within the U.S. for the reason that age of three, when her household moved right here from El Salvador. She advised Virginia lawmakers throughout a listening to final month that she has no reminiscence of El Salvador, and Virginia is the one dwelling she has ever recognized. She stated that if the laws is signed into legislation, she would put on a police badge with “gratitude, honor and respect.”
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“Being an American isn’t just about being born in the United States,” Marquinez stated, but additionally “loving the flag and what it stands for.”
“My only intentions are to serve my community and give back,” she stated.
DACA offers protections in opposition to in opposition to deportation for individuals who arrived within the U.S. earlier than the age of 16 and who’ve lived within the U.S. constantly since not less than 2007. There are at present about 600,000 recipients within the U.S. DACA recipients are eligible for work authorization within the U.S., however can not obtain amnesty and haven’t got a path to citizenship.
The Virginia Senate is seen right here on the primary day of the 2024 legislative session on the Virginia State Capitol constructing in Richmond, Virginia, on Jan. 10, 2024. The Senate authorized a bill that would enable DACA recipients to become eligible for jobs in legislation enforcement on Feb. 13, 2024. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service by way of Getty Images)
Several different states, together with California and Illinois, have already authorized laws to enable noncitizens who’re approved to work within the U.S. to become police officers.
Sen. Jeremy McPike, the lead sponsor of the Virginia bill, stated Marquinez was twice denied a waiver when she utilized to become a police officer in Prince William County.
“There are no better recruits than those who grew up in the community and are also bilingual and reflective of our community,” McPike stated.
Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham stated Marquinez has met all the necessities to become a police officer. While she was in school, she labored as an intern for the police division and now works fulltime as an administrative specialist for the division.
“It would be fundamentally unfair for people who were brought to this country as children and who have lived their lives in such a way that they can meet all the qualifications,” Newsham stated — “for them not to be able to do that is an injustice.”
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Opponents of the bill who testified earlier than a Senate committee Monday stated they consider solely U.S. residents needs to be allowed to wield the facility police have to detain and arrest folks.
The bill will now be despatched to the House of Delegates.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s press workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark about his place on the measure.
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