Democrats in Olympia are reintroducing proposed legislation that would allow non-US citizens to become law enforcement officers and carry firearms.
Senate Bill 5068 would permit individuals who are not US citizens. including refugees, asylees, and holders of temporary work visas, to be hired as general authority or limited authority law enforcement officers, provided they are legally authorized to work under federal law.
If enacted, the legislation would remove long-standing requirements that police officers, corrections officers, and certain prosecutors be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, replacing them with a broader standard that includes any person authorized to work in the United States.
Under SB 5068, non-citizens could be granted police powers, carry firearms, make arrests, and enforce state laws, all while upholding the US Constitution and Washington State law on behalf of American citizens.
In addition to police officers, it would extend eligibility to corrections officers, fish and wildlife officers, and employees in prosecuting attorneys’ offices, as long as they pass the same background checks, psychological evaluations, and certification requirements as citizens.
SB 5068 is a carry-over from the 2025 legislative session and currently sits on the Senate Floor Calendar, with a vote expected on January 21. During the previous session, the measure passed the Senate with unanimous support, including votes from both Democrats and Republicans.
Opponents argue that granting police authority to non-citizens crosses a line by separating the power to enforce laws from citizenship itself. Critics are concerned that since Washington is a so-called “sanctuary state,” Democrats will have lax enforcement on the requirements and allow illegal immigrants to become law enforcement officers, the same way they have issued commercial driver’s licenses to those who were not supposed to have them.
