Immigrant fights to become California lawyer

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Sergio Garcia arrived in the U.S. illegally 20 years ago to pick almonds in the field with his father. But that was not all he wanted for his life.

Working the fields and at a grocery store, he attended community college, studying to become a paralegal, and passed the California bar on the first try, a boast Gov. Jerry Brown, former Gov. Peter Wilson and nearly 50 percent of all first-time test takers can't make.

Now, still living in the U.S. illegally, he will ask the California Supreme Court on Wednesday to license him. He has the support of the state bar and California Attorney General Kamala Harris. The U.S. Department of Justice, however, is trying to block his request.

The DOJ argues in court filings that granting Garcia a law license card would violate a federal law barring people in the U.S. illegally from receiving government benefits. The agency argues the state Supreme Court and California bar officials use public money to license and regulate Garcia's practice.

The federal law was "plainly designed to preclude undocumented aliens from receiving commercial and professional licenses issued by states and the federal government," the DOJ said in court papers after the state's high court asked for the federal government's position.

"It was a real slap in the face," Garcia said.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20130904/US-Lawyer-Working-Illegally/

[Harsh_77 718]

Slap in the face?

He violates the rules, illegal crossing the border, illegally staying in the country, illegally working and now he wants the rules to be bent so he can practice law…. really.

He cannot even claim he did not know the law and he was present in the country illegally.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Unfortunately there are too many lawyers in the States. He faces an uphill struggle.