Legislation

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, warns that House Bill 139, as written, allows for an expansion of the powers of municipal police forces without clear safeguards and adequate coordination of oversight mechanisms. One of the dangers is that it would broaden the delegation of duties that properly belong to federal authorities, including the enforcement of current immigration policies.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, recommended amendments to House Bill 406, which sought to create the “Puerto Rico Police Act” in order to separate the police force from the Department of Public Safety (DSP, by its Spanish acronym). The ACLU of Puerto Rico warned that, without the amendment, the bill would empower the Governor to pre-approve the appointments of officers holding the ranks of Inspector, Commander, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel in the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, altering the distribution of power and undermining the Police Reform. Allowing the Chief Executive to directly influence the police chain of command, an institution that exercises coercive power over the public, opens the door to the misuse of police power.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, does not support House Bill 519. Passage of House Bill 519 would violate the constitutional right to bail and the prohibition against excessive bail, would severely limit judicial discretion, and would have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable populations.