Police in Seattle, Washington, have started recruiting recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Status (DACA) to join their ranks as law enforcement officers. This initiative, a result of Senate Bill 6157, allows DACA recipients to apply for civil service jobs across Washington state, including positions within police and fire departments.
The bill, which went into effect on June 6, has garnered renewed attention after the Seattle Police Department (SPD) posted a LinkedIn job application specifically targeting DACA recipients. The ad proudly states, “SPD is now accepting applications from DACA recipients! Apply Now!” This move highlights a growing trend as earlier this year, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) made a similar decision, even modifying its firearms policy to allow DACA recipients to carry firearms while off-duty.
With the new guidance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), DACA recipients are now permitted to carry firearms and ammunition if it’s part of their official law enforcement duties. However, local agencies hiring DACA recipients must adjust their gun policies to explicitly permit DACA employees to carry firearms.
To qualify under the DACA program, recipients must have come to the United States before their 16th birthday and lack legal authorization to live here permanently. The Seattle Police Department’s job qualifications now state, “An applicant must hold United States citizenship, OR have legal permanent residency in the U.S., OR be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.”
The Seattle Police Department is facing an “alarming staffing crisis,” as noted by 770 KTTH, with only 424 patrol officers currently on the force and 280 eligible for retirement this year across all positions. This shortage underscores the department’s need for as many qualified applicants as possible.
Adding to the recruitment challenges, the mayor’s office has prioritized “diversity hires” over qualifications. In a specific instance, Ben Dalgetty, a strategy lead for Mayor Bruce Harrell (D), sent a memo to SPD human resources requesting fewer images and videos of “officers who are white, male,” and “officers with military bearing.” Instead, Dalgetty advocated for showcasing more “officers of color,” “officers of different genders,” and “officers who are younger.” This focus on diversity raises questions about the prioritization of qualifications and experience in the hiring process for positions critical to public safety.
