Bill > SB3251

This bill prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from hiring individuals as law enforcement officers if they have worked for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Border Patrol for more than ninety days cumulatively between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. This measure is a response to concerns about alleged constitutional rights violations, excessive force, and wrongful detentions by ICE and Border Patrol agents, as detailed in numerous examples provided in the bill's findings section, which highlight incidents involving U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. The legislature believes these incidents demonstrate a pattern of inadequate safeguards and accountability within federal immigration enforcement, and that former agents involved in such incidents may seek employment in state and local law enforcement roles, posing a risk to public safety and trust. The bill aims to prevent individuals potentially responsible for these alleged abuses from holding positions of trust within Hawaii's law enforcement agencies.