Immigrant Officer Sparks Firestorm: Councilors Demand U.S. Citizenship Requirement

(NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS) New Bedford is in the middle of a high-stakes debate over whether police officers must hold U.S. citizenship after the hiring of Patrolman Edwin Yat Toj, a 25-year-old legal permanent resident and the city’s first officer of Mayan descent. Sworn in this June, Toj speaks K’iche’, Spanish, and English—skills the mayor says help solve crimes and build trust in neighborhoods where many residents speak K’iche’. The question now is whether City Council will change the rules for future hires, and how that might affect public safety.

Current Policy and Recent Clarification

At present, the New Bedford Police Department (NBPD) allows both U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to serve. The department updated its website in July to make that clear after earlier, incorrect wording caused confusion.

City leaders note there is no federal or Massachusetts law that bars green card holders from working as municipal police, so local policy controls. Nearby cities including Cambridge, Worcester, and Fall River also allow green card holders to wear the badge, while the Massachusetts State Police still require citizenship.

Important: The city says there is no immediate change to hiring and that current officers who are green card holders will keep their jobs.

City Council Action and Political Positions

The issue boiled over on August 22, when the City Council voted unanimously to instruct the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would require citizenship for all future police hires. That motion, led by At-large Councilor Brian Gomes, is now in committee.

• A separate effort to put a nonbinding question on the November ballot failed 5–6 earlier in August.
• Councilors emphasized any rule would apply only to future recruits, not current officers.

Key political positions:

• Mayor Jon Mitchell opposes a ban on hiring legal permanent residents, arguing a diverse force and language skills are critical. “We need officers who can talk to witnesses and victims in their own language,” he has said.
• Councilor Brian Gomes supports a citizenship requirement for badge-bearing officers but said he does not want current green card holder officers removed and encouraged assistance with naturalization.
• Council President Shane Burgo called the debate a “distraction” and “reactionary and reductive,” promising to vote against any final ordinance he views as a step backward.
• Ward 1 Councilor Leo Choquette supports a long-term citizenship requirement but praised Toj’s background.
• At-large Councilor Naomi Carney supports a requirement while seeking exemptions to protect current non-citizen officers.

Police Chief Jason Thody supports a more inclusive approach, saying officers from varied backgrounds reduce community distrust and increase departmental legitimacy.

Community Impact and Voices

Toj’s hiring has highlighted the human dimension of the debate. He is the first officer in city history of Mayan descent and brings a rare language skill that many families in New Bedford speak at home.

• For residents who fled violence or poverty and now raise children in the city, seeing someone like Toj in uniform can build confidence in calling 911 and cooperating with police.
• In neighborhoods where many speak K’iche’, an officer like Toj can take a witness statement without waiting for an interpreter, which can mean faster arrests and less trauma for victims.
• Supporters of a citizenship rule argue that authority to detain should rest with U.S. citizens and that the badge is a public trust signaling long-term commitment.
• Opponents counter that legal permanent residents already serve in the U.S. military, pay taxes, and in many cases raise U.S.-born children; they note no evidence that legal residents are less effective or loyal as officers.

Community voices, including at-large council candidate Jennifer Arruda, warn that banning legal residents from serving sends a message that they don’t belong even when they risk their lives for the city.

Policy Stakes and Legal Landscape

• Massachusetts allows local governments to set their own hiring rules for municipal police. Some cities permit green card holders; the state police require citizenship.
• The New Bedford City Council voted on August 22, 2025 to begin drafting a citizenship requirement for future hires.
• The mayor supports keeping the door open to legal residents and can veto a final ordinance; an override requires eight of eleven councilors.

Councilor Choquette raised concerns about process integrity, noting the department corrected its website in July to clarify eligibility after earlier inaccurate wording. NBPD officials say the correction aligns with department practice and broader diversity goals.

Procedural Path Forward

Procedurally, the city’s path can be summarized in steps:

1. Ordinance drafting: The city attorney prepares language at the council’s direction.
2. Committee review: Councilors debate and can amend the draft in committee.
3. Full council vote: If advanced, the proposal goes before the full body.
4. Mayoral veto: The mayor can veto; overriding a veto requires eight votes.
5. Implementation: Any rule would apply only to future hires and would not remove current officers.

Note: While councilors voted unanimously to start drafting, final language could face resistance in committee or on the full council. There is no public schedule for the next hearing, so the process could stretch into late 2025 or beyond.

Local Context and Broader Implications

New Bedford is one of the region’s most diverse cities, with large immigrant communities and many languages spoken at home, including K’iche’ and Creole. Mayor Mitchell’s administration has intentionally sought to mirror that diversity in public jobs, including within the police ranks.

• The department has grown staffing in recent years and seen drops in violent and property crime over the past decade, credited to steady community work, outreach, and a force that better reflects residents.

If the City Council adopts a citizenship requirement, other Massachusetts communities may follow suit. Conversely, if the ordinance stalls or is vetoed, New Bedford could become a case study in prioritizing language access and representation during tight recruiting markets and debates about public service norms.

Immediate Guidance for Residents and Applicants

• As of August 2025, NBPD policy allows both U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to apply to become officers. That remains true unless and until Council adopts new language and it becomes law.
• Prospective applicants who are legal permanent residents can still consider a police career in New Bedford. Recruitment materials highlight community service and language skills as advantages.

For updates, official city information, meeting notices, and council agendas are available on the City of New Bedford’s official site: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/. Residents who wish to speak at hearings can contact their councilors and follow committee schedules there.

Key Takeaways

• The debate centers on balancing public trust expectations with practical needs for language access and community representation.
• Any new rule would apply only to future hires; current officers who are green card holders would not be removed.
• The mayor can veto any ordinance; overriding a veto requires eight votes, leaving the outcome uncertain.
• The dispute underscores how decisions about hiring can shape residents’ sense of fairness, belonging, and willingness to cooperate with police.

For now, Edwin Yat Toj remains on patrol, speaking with residents in their own words and illustrating how one officer’s story can shape a city-wide conversation about who gets to serve and what citizenship should mean in New Bedford.