Minnesota Police Dept. Hires Illegal Immigrants, non-U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders - Somali and Mexican
- 17GEN4
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
Minneapolis Police Department Bolsters Ranks with 23 New Officers, Marking Historic Milestones
Minneapolis, MN – In a ceremony hailed as a step forward for diversity and rebuilding efforts, the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) swore in 23 new officers on Thursday, September 26, 2024, including trailblazers who represent firsts for the force.
The class comprised 11 new recruits and 12 lateral transfers from other agencies, some bringing more than a decade of experience. Among the recruits were Officer Ikran Mohamed, 23, the first Somali-American woman to join the MPD, and Officer Lesly Vera, 27, the department's first non-U.S. citizen—a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) born in Mexico who has lived in the United States since age 4.
The hires come amid ongoing efforts to replenish the department following years of attrition since the 2020 murder of George Floyd, which prompted hundreds of officers to leave and made recruitment challenging. MPD Chief Brian O’Hara noted that the additions bring the sworn personnel total to 582, putting the department on track to end 2024 with more officers than the previous year.
A key enabler for Officer Vera's inclusion was a 2022 change in Minnesota state law, which expanded eligibility for police applicants to include those authorized to work in the U.S. under federal requirements, rather than requiring full citizenship. Chief O’Hara defended the policy by drawing parallels to historical traditions of immigrants serving in the military.
"There’s a history in this country of people immediately on arrival enlisting in the military and serving," O’Hara said. "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."
Officer Vera, who previously served as a Community Service Officer with MPD while pursuing her career goals, expressed her long-held dream of becoming an officer and the personal significance of representation for the Latina community.
Officer Mohamed, who wore a black hijab and adjusted her newly pinned badge with henna-adorned hands, emphasized her desire to serve as a role model. "I want to be a role model for girls who look like me, so they can say ‘I can do it, too,’" she told reporters after the event at the American Indian Center.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised the class for reflecting the city's communities. "Our police department is looking more and more like the communities that we are charged with protecting and serving," he said.The new officers began 10 weeks of field training the following day. Four new Minneapolis Park Police officers were also sworn in during the same ceremony.
The milestone drew attention both locally and nationally, with some online commentary focusing on the non-citizen hire, though city leaders framed it as a positive advancement in representation and recruitment.
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