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

Question 2T amends language in the Denver City and Council Charter. Under the measure, Denver residents with appropriate U.S. work authorization, but without U.S. citizenship, could apply to work in the Denver police and fire departments.

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If passed, lawful permanent residents and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients would be able to apply to work. However, the measure does not allow candidates to be hired without work authorization or legal residency in the United States.

Proponents of the 2T issue argue that many non-citizen residents already work for the Denver government and are eligible to work in the U.S. military. Other supporters point out that it would align Denver fire and police department requirements with federal law prohibiting employment discrimination based on nation of origin.

Opponents of the measure question whether training and resources would be devoted to employees who do not intend 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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