Danbury City Council Approves Police Positions for Non-Citizen Immigrants

The Danbury city council, operating under a Democratic majority, approved a measure that allows DACA recipients and other legally residing non-citizens to become city police officers. The vote, 18 in favor and two against, was presented as a direct response to recent ICE raids that officials say have frightened residents and hurt local commerce. Councilman Joe Britton clarified that each immigrant applicant will face identical background investigations and will be integrated fully into the police force, echoing his belief that uniform service transcends personal background.

Mayor Roberto Alves, who disclosed he entered the United States without legal status, praised the policy and accused ICE of turning parts of the city into a “ghost town.” He noted declining school enrollment, particularly among English-learners, as evidence of the raids’ broader social impact. The decision aims to reassure the immigrant population that they are welcome and to challenge federal immigration enforcement tactics.