The Minneapolis Police Department has broken new ground by appointing Lesly Vera, a Somali native, as its first non-citizen officer.
According to a report by Breitbart, Vera, who moved to Minneapolis from Mexico at the age of four, is a legal resident alien authorized to work in the United States but is not a U.S. citizen.
Vera wore a hijab as she took the oath of office and received her badge. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended this historic moment, stating that the idea of giving police powers to a non-citizen should not be questioned. O’Hara likened the situation to the history of immigrants enlisting in the military upon arrival in the country.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara strongly supported the decision to appoint a non-citizen as a police officer. He emphasized that someone like Vera, who has essentially spent her entire life in the United States, is entitled to protect her community just like any other resident. O’Hara further expressed his honor in having Vera join the department, highlighting her capability to serve the community effectively.
There may be people who question it, but that’s completely ridiculous. There’s, like I mentioned, there is a history in this country of people immediately on arrival to the country, enlisting in the military and serving.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also praised the appointment, noting that the police department is becoming more representative of the city's diverse population. Frey mentioned that the new officers include the first Somali-American woman and the first permanent resident, which he believes will help the department better serve the residents. He expressed his pride in the direction the department is taking under Chief O’Hara.
The door for non-citizen officers was opened last year when the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) adopted new rules allowing state law enforcement agencies to hire non-citizens.
This change eliminated the citizenship requirement, and applicants now only need to be legal residents and cleared to work in the U.S. to become police officers. Minnesota is not alone in this initiative; California, Colorado, and Illinois are also working on legislation to allow non-citizens to become police officers.
Minneapolis has a significant Somali migrant community, the largest in the United States. The city has been a target of Somali migration since the 1990s, drawn by generous welfare programs and the chance to live among their countrymen.
However, the community has recently been rocked by a massive fraud case involving tens of millions in stolen Medicaid funding connected to a fake charity called Feeding Our Future, run by leading local Somali residents.
Minneapolis faced criticism in 2017 when a police officer and Somali native, Mohamed Noor, shot and killed an Australian woman while responding to a 911 call. Officer Noor was eventually convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter, though the state Supreme Court later vacated the third-degree conviction. Ultimately, Noor was sentenced to 57 months for murdering the woman.
The decision to appoint a non-citizen officer has sparked debate on social media. Elon Musk, for instance, expressed concern over the situation, likening it to the fall of the Roman Empire and noting that the Roman Army also increasingly relied on non-citizens. Despite the criticism, the Minneapolis Police Department stands by its decision, emphasizing the importance of a diverse and representative police force.
In conclusion, Minneapolis has made a historic move by swearing in its first non-citizen police officer, Lesly Vera. The appointment has been defended by Police Chief Brian O’Hara and praised by Mayor Jacob Frey, who believe that a diverse police force better serves the community. However, the decision has also faced criticism, highlighting the complexities of integrating non-citizens into law enforcement roles.
