A noncitizen is now on the police force in Minneapolis, according to reports.
Lesly Vera became the first noncitizen police officer in Minneapolis during a graduation ceremony Thursday night, KSTP reported.
“Our 23 new officers include the first Somali-American woman to join the department and the first permanent resident. A police service that looks like our residents is better able to serve our residents, and I couldn’t be more proud of the department we’re building under Chief O’Hara,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said on social media.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended the move when speaking with KSTP.
“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,” O’Hara told the outlet. “Somebody like [Officer Vera], who has been here essentially her entire life, absolutely is entitled to protect her community in the same way that anyone else here has, and we’re honored to have her.”
According to MPR, Vera is a legal, permanent resident but not a citizen. She came to America at the age of four. MPR said her addition to the police force was possible because of a “recent change in state law.”
