End the citizenship requirement for fire and police departments

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver voters will decide Question 2T, which would eliminate the citizenship requirement for employment for police officers and firefighters, allowing people who are not U.S. citizens to work as first responders.

Question 2T changes the wording in the Denver City and Council Charter. Under this measure, Denver residents with appropriate work authorization in the United States, but without U.S. citizenship, could apply for work with the Denver Police and Fire Departments.

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If passed, the bill would allow legal permanent residents and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to apply for employment. However, the measure does not allow candidates without a work permit or legal residence in the United States to be hired.

Proponents of Question 2T argue that many noncitizens already work in Denver’s government and are eligible to serve in the U.S. military. Other advocates point out that it would align the requirements of Denver’s fire and police departments with federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on country of origin.

Opponents of the measure question whether training and resources would be spent on employees who do not plan to stay.

In 2018, the Denver Sheriff’s Department ended the U.S. citizenship requirement to hire non-citizen law enforcement officers. Question 2T would do the same for the Denver Police and Fire Departments, which are separate from the Denver Sheriff.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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