NEW BEDFORD — In at least a dozen states, including Massachusetts, some municipalities allow immigrants with legal permanent status to serve as police officers. New Bedford just swore in such an officer in June.
But the New Bedford City Council on Thursday night unanimously passed a motion instructing its attorney to draft an ordinance that, depending on the final language, could require every officer hired by the New Bedford Police Department to be a U.S. citizen.
At-large Councilor Brian Gomes, who filed the motion, said “I believe to carry the badge and enforce the law, you must be a citizen of the U.S.”
He said there are two or three “good” officers serving NBPD who are green-card holders, and that he does not want them off the force.
“What I do want is for the department to work with these officers to make them citizens,” Gomes told his fellow councilors.
A second motion, put forth by Ward 1 Councilor Leo Choquette, sought to add to the city’s November ballot the following question: “Should United States Citizenship be a requirement for a person to be hired as a Police Officer in the City of New Bedford?” (Choquette filed it as a non-binding question to gauge public opinion.) It failed 5-6.
With Gomes’ motion passed, councilors will now provide input to their attorney, who will draft ordinance language. From there, the committee must discuss and vote on it. If it passes, it goes to the full council session for a vote. If the council passes it, the mayor has the ability to veto it, explained council attorney David Gerwatowski. To overcome the mayor’s veto, the ordinance would need support from eight of the 11 councilors.
What city officials are saying
The council motions came weeks after The Light published a story on the hiring of Patrolman Edwin Yat Toj, the city’s first police officer of Mayan descent and first K’iche’-speaking officer. Toj is a legal permanent resident who’s pursuing citizenship.
“When I read that article, I almost teared up,” Choquette said in an interview with The Light, seeing it as a story of immigrant integration. He added, though, that Toj’s status made him pause.
“I’m glad to hear he’s in the process of getting U.S. citizenship,” he said. “If you’re planning on being here forever and being in a role the community looks to for leadership like a police officer, you should be a citizen.”
After the story, Toj’s status became the subject of conversation on local talk radio station WBSM. The station reported that the city Police Department’s FAQ page used to state police officers had to be U.S. citizens — but the wording changed to include permanent residents shortly after the station’s inquiries.
Choquette and Gomes during Thursday’s council meeting suggested the department “finagled” with its policy in order to allow Toj to join the force.
Holly Huntoon, the NBPD spokeswoman, told The Light that green-card holders have never been barred from serving. She confirmed the department also employs a police officer who is a green-card holder from Cabo Verde.
“I’m not some mouthpiece for WBSM,” Choquette told The Light. “We need to fix this by strengthening the value of citizenship, not by diluting what it means.”
Shawn Oliver, Ward 3 councilor, supported Gomes’ motion. He said the trust between the community and law enforcement must remain strong, and that the council will “hopefully come out with a favorable outcome for the city” after drafting ordinance language.
Adrian Ventura, executive director of the Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, said such moves send a counterproductive message to a community already under threat.
“We are not welcome into the system,” said Ventura, a K’iche’-speaker from Guatemala and naturalized U.S. citizen, in Spanish. “I believe there have been police there with the same papers as Toj before. Why are they going to ask a thousand questions now? It’s when a Maya enters the force that they decide to have a problem.”
City Council President Shane Burgo called the debate a “distraction.”
“I do not believe the question of whether legal permanent residents should be allowed to serve as police officers is a real concern of the people of New Bedford,” he said. “What I hear from residents every day are worries about the rising cost of living, higher rents, crumbling infrastructure, and whether we even have enough people willing to serve on our police force.”
“I am proud that New Bedford continues to be a city that welcomes immigrants,” he continued. “Many of these individuals not only want to build a better future for themselves and their families here, but also want to make our community safer by serving on the front lines of our police force. That is something we should celebrate, not question.”
Burgo, who voted yes on Gomes’ motion, explained it as a vote in favor of discussing an ordinance. He said he intends to vote no on what comes out of committee.
“I supported sending his motion to committee because I’m willing to have the discussion in committee,” Burgo said. “At the same time, I don’t think this ordinance makes any progress. I think it’s reactionary and reductive.”
Mayor Jon Mitchell said immigrant officers’ language skills help the police force protect the city.
“Public safety depends… on the ability of police officers to obtain information that can help them solve crimes. Officers who are fluent in languages other than English are valuable to a department for precisely this reason,” Mitchell wrote in an emailed statement. “We have an acute shortage of officers who speak K’iche and Creole, languages that are spoken by thousands of city residents. Officers who speak these languages, regardless of whether they have yet to achieve full citizenship, enhance public safety.”
Police Chief Jason Thody cited similar themes.
“A diverse police department increases cultural competency and creates a foundation of expanded understanding,” Thody said in a statement emailed to The Light. “Having officers from various backgrounds and with different life experiences reduces community distrust and increases legitimacy, enhances the ability to communicate through language barriers, and provides opportunities for collaboration where they may not otherwise exist.”
NBPD is “committed to maintaining the highest standards by hiring individuals who demonstrate the skills, integrity, and dedication required to be outstanding police officers,” Thody continued. “Ultimately, we follow the hiring guidelines established by our elected officials.”
Lorenzo Gonzalez, the New Bedford police union president, said he didn’t know until recently that permanent residents are permitted to serve as police officers.
“From the union standpoint, our opinion is this officer is a fellow union member, he went through the police academy … He’s a very good officer,” Gonzalez said of Toj, “and we support him along with all of our union members.”
Police departments, including New Bedford’s, have faced staffing shortages in recent years. Asked if a city ordinance barring permanent residents could hurt the department by limiting its ability to hire, Gonzalez wouldn’t say.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to speculate,” he said. “I respect the council’s decision if this is something they wish to enact. They’re the legislative body, so to speak, for the city. That’s well within their rights to enact.”
Legal permanent residents have rights
Also known as green-card holders, permanent residents have been provided lawful status by the federal government. Green-card holders cannot vote in elections or run for office, but they work, pay taxes, and share some of the same federal and state rights as citizens.
The authorization can be traced back to the Alien Registration Act of 1940, which required all non-citizens to register with the federal government. Massachusetts ranks fifth in the country for the most green-card holders as of 2023, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Green-card holders also serve in the U.S. military, as long as they speak and read English fluently. Since 2002, more than 187,000 members of the military have been naturalized, per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Former Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro, who emigrated from the Azores at 2 years old, said, “I don’t really see a major issue.” Cordeiro, who was the first immigrant chief of NBPD, said if it’s such a concern, the city could create a requirement that the officer has five or so years to become a U.S. citizen.
“These people are here legally and they want to serve,” Cordeiro said, adding that immigrants bring important skills to the job, like speaking a second language and offering diverse perspectives.
According to the most recent Census estimate, there were 1,500 Guatemalans in the city, though activists say 6,000 or more is a more accurate estimate. K’iche’, an Indigenous Central American language, is the fifth most common home language in the city’s school district, after English, Spanish, Kriolu (of Cabo Verde), and Portuguese.
Toj speaks English, K’iche’, and Spanish.
“This young man that has been hired … He’s trained, academy certified. If he left to go to another department … their gain would be our loss,” Cordeiro said.
Variability within states
In Massachusetts, some police departments permit permanent residents to serve; others don’t.
Massachusetts State Police, for example, requires U.S. citizenship. A Boston Police Department spokesperson was not clear in response to an inquiry on its policy, stating the department “follows all requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee” and deferring to that agency.
The MPTC makes no mention of citizenship in its list of requirements to enroll in a police academy. An agency spokesperson said the committee does not track or collect information on the citizenship status of student officers enrolled in its police academies.
The Cambridge, Worcester, and Fall River police allow green-card holders to serve as police officers, The Light has confirmed. Mitchell’s statement identified Brockton and Attleboro as also permitting them.
In Worcester, green-card holders who pass a background check can serve, a department spokesperson said. In recent years, the department hired a green-card holder from Italy who has since become a U.S. citizen.
In Fall River, the department has two green-card holders in the police academy. They are permitted to serve as officers, as long as they are seeking permanent citizenship and become citizens before their green cards expire.
The Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force, which works to improve relationships between police and immigrant communities, has said these policies are less often an explicit provision in the state or municipal code, and more often an omission of a citizenship requirement.
According to the task force and news reports, municipalities in the following states allow green-card holders to work as police officers: Massachusetts, Colorado, Hawaii, California, Utah, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Washington, Vermont, Tennessee, Louisiana and Maine. However, cities may adopt more stringent requirements (for example, a permanent resident with past military service).
Michael Bradley, executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, said a policy of allowing green-card holders to serve can be “beneficial,” especially in diverse communities.
“I think we’ve seen probably across the country that departments have looked to LPRs to fill in some of the ranks, and I think it also helps with some of the diversity,” he said. “Some of our communities have many languages that are spoken. If they can have officers who are fluent and can connect with those communities, it is helpful.”
Councilors explain opposition
Choquette argued that requiring police officers to be U.S. citizens would further incentivize immigrants to become citizens. He said U.S. citizenship guarantees that one would not be deported, as opposed to the limbo many community members live in. (Media reports have shown ICE agents detaining U.S. citizens and sending U.S. citizen children of deportees abroad amid President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.)
Choquette added that he believes requiring U.S. citizenship would also increase officer safety.
“I genuinely worry that the mayor putting these folks as legal permanent residents [on the force] exposes them to people that have really twisted ideas on the other side of the spectrum,” he said, adding that some may refuse to stop for officers who aren’t citizens and become belligerent.
Choquette also blamed policymakers in Washington, D.C., for decades of stalled attempts at immigration reform.
“I understand that the system, the way it is now, is difficult for people to get through and get their citizenship,” he said. “Now, we’re stuck and it trickles down to the local level.”
At-Large Councilor Naomi Carney said officers across the country should be U.S. citizens. She said she believes the green-card holders serving the department are “great officers” and that an exemption should be included in the ordinance that would prescribe a timeline for them to become citizens.
“I don’t want to see anyone lose their jobs because of this ordinance,” she said.
As the councilors spoke, one attendee held bright blue signs behind them. One read, “let legal residents with green cards serve and protect us!” The other said, “we support Officer Edwin Yat Toj.”
The signholder was Jennifer Arruda, who is running against several incumbents for an at-large council seat this November. She said an ordinance would signal that it’s okay for people to not respect the position and authority of officers like Toj.
For Ventura, the question is really about belonging.
“The message they’re sending here is clear,” he said. “I think, though, that the doors should be opened to anyone who wants to serve their community. I don’t want them to shut this door.”
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org and Kevin G. Andrade at kandrade@newbedfordlight.org.
No one ever accused Brian Gomes of making any sense (“I believe to carry the badge and enforce the law, you must be a citizen of the U.S.”). No, actually, to carry the badge and enforce the law, you must believe in the rule of law and its fair application to everyone — something that many officers with citizenship simply don’t.
Well said….especially since trump syncofants are threatening law abiding folks awaiting citizenship. We need a diverse police force!
Some city counselors are stirring the pot to get votes any way they can. Shameful!
Law abiding folks ? ? ? Talk about sleepy joe banter. How about crossing the border and coming here illegally, isn’t that what is shameful, plus breaking the law. And let’s set the record straight in just eight months President Trump has done more than Joe Biden did in four years. It is time to stop the Healey and Mitchell liberal nonsense, the Councilors are 100% right and an ordinance should be put in place that anyone wanting to become a law enforcement officer should be a United States Citizen.
Are you speaking as the top rabble-rouser of the WBSM/McCarthy Crew? Or one of Trump’s mindless MAGAs? Either way, there are other states that live by the principals you endear, maybe you should consider moving? Life is too short to live so miserably.
This a democracy and I stand by my comments. I do not expect everyone to agree with them. But for you to make comments on my life, suggest what groups I am affiliated with, and say I should move from my home state because you don’t agree with my comments, takes away all your credibility, makes you look like a very small minded person, and it really doesn’t matter what party you belong to.
If working for the City of New Bedford was fair and treatment well, they’d be more American Citizens applying for such jobs. They are Civil Servants. If they have a green card, they are not illegal. Aren’t we focusing on illegals. First it was illegals that were criminals. However, that is not what we see. I agreed “no illegals”, but now Greencard holders are here legally, just not citizens yet. Perhaps put in a timeline for them to become citizens.
So Jeff, at this moment you’re for the councilors. Weren’t you on another article knocking them down.
As I’ve seen many times, including on other platforms, David Ehrens is spot on!
I’m thoroughly disappointed with the councilors on this one. Even Leo Choquette, who I’ve seen speak well on behalf of Ward 1, sounds patronizing: “I genuinely worry that the mayor putting these folks as legal permanent residents [on the force] exposes them to people that have really twisted ideas on the other side of the spectrum.” Is he listening to himself?! He wants to restrict people to protect them?
These councilors need to stop playing politics and listen to the needs of the people. That was always true, but in these times, this discussion is all the more loaded, and they should be ashamed of themselves for the dog whistling. If it’s intentional, they shouldn’t be on the council. If it’s not, they need to speak to the experts and wise up ASAP.
Another outrageous proposal put forth by a few city councilors that simply panders to the political winds that are being fueled by folks who are extremely angry and frustrated and need someone to make their scapegoat.
A family member who served in the US military for more than twenty years, responded to this article with one question.
“So let me get this straight. It’s acceptable for documented immigrants to serve in our armed forces, carry weapons and even die. Why can’t they help keep our streets safe? At two in the morning when you’re being victimized by criminals in your home, I doubt you’re going to ask to see the responding officer’s papers.
Well said.
This is not a good sign, and I get the sense that an anti immigrant vibe has taken hold in New Bedford. If green card holders passed the requirements, they should be allowed to serve. It wasn’t an issue for the Mayan police officer until someone discovered it, and then made it into an issue. Plus this police officer can speak a unique language. Why is that not considered a very important asset for this community? Finally, think about it… are there any other applicants that can pass the test, have no police record, or have done drugs or are currently addicts? Find them and let them apply to be police officers. Yeesh, a clear anti immigrant vibe that should not be tolerated.
Supporting Councilor Leo Choquette 100%, to take the oath to serve and protect (be a police officer) you must be a United States Citizen. Time for change, kick the Governor, and Mayor, to the curb.
You do not have to be citizen to serve in the US military.
That say as it all.
The process of welcoming immigrants to the USA and helping them go through the steps of becoming US legal residents and then citizens integrated into our society has been central to the success of the USA since before the signing of our Declaration of Independence. We are a nation of immigrants. It appears to me that the recent large volume of immigrants have, in general, more ambition and more willingness to work hard than the average American. Immigrants do not come to our country to receive assistance from government programs but rather to find opportunities to contribute to our economy as workers and entrepreneurs. We are so lucky to have them and their children who carry on their values. Any Green Card Holder should be welcomed if they qualify for any service job.
Jim Hughes
If they can’t read and right english they belong no where near a first responder public safety job. Its common sense.
Absolutely
Not everyone agrees with he far left democrat politics of Maura Healey and John Mitchell. In every democratic country around the world you have to be a citizen to be a law enforcement officer. If it means that much to a person to come to our country and want to be a law enforcement officer, they should see the process through, show their commitment to our country, and get their citizenship papers. Time for political change in Massachusetts.
Maura Healy and Democrats have nothing to do with this matter. For ypu make such a statement makes you appear small.
Jeff, are you sure about that. Is that AI backed, I need to start fact checking you!
Jeff, I just checked this myself. There are states in the US that require a legal resident or a work visa. Fact checked! There’s a list, from states in the US……….
Estos consejales ipocritas y mediocres buscan ordenanzaz para la impocicion y exclucion de una raza que emos sido ignorados y sometidos y excluidos por mas de 500 a?os !!! a pero el acoso sexual robo de salarios trafico de menores por agencias temporeras ( work force y Marder trawling ) en Newbedford estos ultimos dias se asen el sordo y siegos pero ellos comiendo en la mesa de ellos disfrutando mientras pagamos inpuestos nos gustaria que se abla de una ordenaza para los esclavos modernos para los miles de trabajadores en newbedford
It is real simple, come here legally, get your green card, and than see the process through to get your citizenship. There would be nothing to talk about.
In the future let them get their citizenship first and then welcome them to the police Academy.
People will always find something to complain about. It could be a hire requirement, they could be interning. We need officers. If you’re hurt and the police/emt’s come are you going to say are you here legally. Just like when a layperson states they are certified in cpr and the person dies….maybe the person should have asked, are you certified, then again some that are certified are not qualified, I know my mom died because of such thing a person claimed they were qualified and obviously wasn’t, it would have been better if she wasn’t certified. Tried to help but passed. That I could have accepted.
Unless they are total permanent legal immigrants and can speak and write english proficiently they have no place attempting to enforce any law against myself or my family. If I was stopped and detained by anyone less, my lawyer would have a field day. I assure NBPD there would be zero cooperation right from the start, so Ofc NoSpeak better call the Supervisor to the scene before he or she gets of the cruiser. Cold fact. Which raises another issue….complete knowledge of operating a cruiser or stay out of it. This is no different than the recent fatal truck accident in Florida with an illegal alien driving the truck who could barely understand traffic signs and english.
Green card holders are legal permanent residents but refusing lawful orders, especially in relation to your perception or assumption of an officer’s immigration status, probably isn’t going to go the way you think it is. It’s also not going to be the kind of case any decent lawyer would want to take on nor would it result in some kind of financial windfall.
The Armed Forces of the United States and the Massachusetts State Police welcome Permanent.
City Council President Burgo and Mayor Mitchell apparently trust in Green Card holders as well.
Public service is a traditional American upward mobility path. Any change to that is a deviation of standards to our US Military and to our Massachusetts State Police. Throw the deviant move out, along with anyone holding to it. Salute our military, salute the Staties, salute NBPD.
Since we allow green card holders to serve in the military, and it’s quite possible these applicants could also be veterans, opposing this practice comes across as nothing but an act of simpleminded bigotry and xenophobia. I would also expect that the green card holders seeking careers in law enforcement have a far better grasp of the English language and a higher degree of educational attainment than many of the native-born Americans who are opposed to this policy.
Councilor Gomes, nothing personal however as a CPV American NewB native Vietnam era US Army veteran your stance and advocacy stands as a betrayal of NewB’s decades and generations of OUR CPV as well as PT and other legal immigrants’ current and ancestral legacy of public service. The policy you’ve proposed and leading is contrary to advocacy of exemplary citizenry via the tradition of the opportunity to be serving during loyal Permanent Residency status:
“At-large Councilor” Brian Gomes, who filed the motion, said “I believe to carry the badge and enforce the law, you must be a citizen of the U.S.”
Public documents conflict with the reporting on Massachusetts State Police policy. When did a ban on Permanent Residents serving become rule?
Are green card holders really permanent? While a green card holder’s status is listed as a “permanent resident” green cards have to be renewed after 10 years, and during this time the status can be revoked at anytime. This information is available on the web and I believe it’s in the best interest of our city, state, and country that all law enforcement officers should be United States Citizens.
I’m certain that Brian Gomes is the product of immigrants and I wonder if he would oppose an immigrant family member the privillege of serving as a policeman. There is no law requiring that to serve as a policemen, or any public job, requires citizenship. If the city council does adopt a policy requiring citizenship to be a policeman, I’m sure that it will be challenged in court costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. Let’s stop bashing immigrants.
Why??? Is simply by being a citizen make you more qualified for any job then an immigrant? Does being a citizen make that person more capable, intelligent trustworthy or honest than an immigrant? Citizenship does make person anything special. What makes a person special is character.
You’re welcome to your opinion, but I think most of us have a lot of character, and we are proud to be citizens of the greatest country on this planet. I stand by my comments and truly believe to be a Law Enforcement Officer in our City, State, and Country it should require being a citizen of the United States.
Questions for Ward 1 Councilor, Leo Choquette.
Brian Gomes, At-large Councilor.
Shawn Oliver, Ward 3 Councilor
Have any of you ever serving in the US Armed Forces in ANY capacity during a combat era? If so are you aware that the ranks had, have, welcomed, and still welcome Permanent Residents?
Same question whether any of you have ever served in an LEO capacity at any time, i.e., what is the basis of your acumen in assessing what makes a quality LEO candidacy?
Final question: Is there a metric for determining reasonable bigotry within NBPD hiring to meet operational necessity.
While I do not agree with everything they do, I think Ward 1 Councilor Leo Choquette, Ward 3 Councilor Shawn Oliver, and At Large Councilor Brian Gomes are all good men, serve with integrity, and care about the citizens of New Bedford. The comparison of what happens in a military combat situation to what happens in our state, city, and town governments does not work. The truth is the only reason this has happened in Massachusetts is because of the far left radical liberal Maura Healey becoming governor, prior to her being elected, this was not an issue. The only way to solve this problem is for immigrants to come here legally, fill out an application and if accepted, get a green card, than see the process through and get their citizenship, and than they can have what ever job they want.
Jeff, what happened to your comments to vote them all out?