Illegal Immigrant Wants the right to Practice Law in California

Sergio Garcia wanted more out of life than picking almonds off trees with his father. 

Instead Garcia, who arrived in the United States illegally 20 years ago, 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 half 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 officially 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 argued 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.

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