SB 78 Bill Allowing DACA Recipients To Be Appointed As Law Enforcement Officers In Wisconsin Died In The Senate Organization Committee

The Wisconsin Senate Bill 78 that would allow DACA recipients to become sworn law enforcement officers died in the Senate Organization Committee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 19, 2024

Madison, Wisconsin - Last week, the Wisconsin State Senate ended its session allowing Wisconsin State Senate Bill 78/Assembly Bill 51 to died in the Wisconsin Senate Committee. SB 78, if passed by the State Senate would have allowed for certain legally present aliens (DACA recipients) to be appointed as law enforcement officers in State. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2023/proposals/sb78

Unfortunately, SB 78 was referred to the State Senate Organization Committee in February 20 where it died.

Wisconsin State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milw), one of the co-sponsors of the bill when contacted by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) on Wednesday, Carpenter confirmed that the Senate GOP killed SB 78 bill when it wasn't added to the last day of the Senate session on March 12. 

Also a second DACA bill, AB 822 (SB 826) relating to allow DACA recipients of referred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to become eligible to receive occupational licenses in Wisconsin failed to be approved in the State Assembly, which the bill died after the State Assembly session ended on February 22, 2024. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2023/proposals/ab822

The Wisconsin State legislature is controlled by the Republicans and some Trump MAGA loyalists, which most are anti-immigrant, despite DACA recipients pay taxes and undocumented immigrants in Wisconsin pay more 5han $90M in combined taxes per year.

Currently, undocumented immigrants are prohibited from applying for driver licenses as a safety measure for safe roads.

The hypocrisy: Wisconsin and Mexico have a trade agreement totalling more than $6.1B, which benefits Wisconsin with 92,500 jobs supported by trade with Mexico and 4,942 jobs supported by Mexican companies totalling 97,442 jobs. But today, the Wisconsin Republican/MAGA controlled legislature won't allow for Mexican nationals in the State to drive safe by allowing them to apply for driver licenses or permits.

Fact: The Wisconsin and Mexico trade agreement totaled more than $6.1B in 2019 (Report 2020,  Embassy of Mexico in the U.S. - Economic Affairs Office), with Mexico importing goods to the State of more than $2.8B, and Wisconsin exporting more than $3.3B to Mexico. https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/images/stories/economicos/tradebystate/2020/WISCONSIN.pdf

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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