No, I'm not referring to the golfer. This Sergio Garcia is a 36 year old man who came to the United States when he was 17, and since, attended Cal Northern School of Law in Chico, California. He worked his way through school by bagging groceries, and has now passed the Bar exam in California. However, Garcia is not being granted a law license. Why? Join me on the other side after reading the article.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/04/undocumented-immigrant-lawyer_n_3865036.html
Garcia is an illegal alien who's been living in the United States for the past 20 years. He came to the United States from Mexico when he was just a 2 year old child, and after returning to Mexico at age 9, he returned to the United States at age 17, specifically California, where he's been living for the past 20 years. It was at that time Garcia applied for citizenship, and he's still waiting to get a answer.
That was 1994.
I'm not an expert on Immigration policy or its laws, but it seems fairly far-fetched to me that a man who would apply for citizenship almost 20 years ago has heard nothing, yet his case is now before the California Supreme Court. In 1996, the United States Congress passed a law barring illegal immigrants from receiving professional licenses of any kind from government agencies, specifically, through usage of public funds. The exception? If state lawmakers vote otherwise, which is where Garcia has gone. And though an official decision isn't expected for another 90 days, the seven justices on the California Supreme Court all expressed doubt that Garcia's petition would succeed. Among the comments came these from Justice Ming Chin and Justice Goodwin Liu:
Chin:
Liu:
I'm not sure if the justices are encouraging State Legislature to pass such a law, which would take longer than ninety days. But here's the rub: California Attorney General Kamala Harris is Garcia's biggest public supporter, who has said the following:
With all of this in his favor, it seems a slam dunk that Garcia should be granted a law license, does it not? That's what my heart tells me. My head? It says otherwise.
The man wants to fight to uphold the laws of the state and country that he himself is in violation of. Instead of applying for temporary citizenship and then coming to the States, he came in illegally, and has been living here illegally ever since. Do I feel for the man? Absolutely. He applied for citizenship in 1994, and it's yet to be granted. But that's my heart talking.
My head says otherwise. If I were to hedge a bet, it's due to the fact that he came to the country illegally, and has been living here illegally since, which makes him a lesser priority then those who have applied in the legal fashion.
There's something larger at stake here, and that's the idea that someone who's lived outside the law for his entire adult life being able to practice law. If the California Supreme Court(doubtfully) acquiesces his request, or legislation passes a law allowing illegal immigrants to receive professional licenses, it opens Pandora's Box for other people who have come to the country illegally to receieve licenses as well. I suppose they can be picky and selective, and Garcia the man would definitely be the type they'ld take. Other than living in violation of civil law by living in the country illegally, he's been a model 'citizen', no pun intended. But he did come here illegally when he was 17, instead of waiting for like those who do come legally and thus are afforded equal rights.
Garcia shouldn't have it both ways. He wants his 'American Dream', but he didn't go about pursuing it the right way. Is it a shame he hasn't received an answer yet on his request for citizenship? Sure. But it wouldn't be a worry if he had entered the country legally in the first place. And he shouldn't be able to practice the very law he's breaking on a daily basis.
My heart says yes, but my head? No. And if I were a Justice on the California Supreme Court, that's how I'd vote.
If you were a justice on the California Supreme Court, would you vote to allow Sergio(not the golfer) Garcia to practice law? Why or why not?
You know the drill. Thoughts, comments, discussion, all welcome. Let's hear it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/04/undocumented-immigrant-lawyer_n_3865036.html
Garcia is an illegal alien who's been living in the United States for the past 20 years. He came to the United States from Mexico when he was just a 2 year old child, and after returning to Mexico at age 9, he returned to the United States at age 17, specifically California, where he's been living for the past 20 years. It was at that time Garcia applied for citizenship, and he's still waiting to get a answer.
That was 1994.
I'm not an expert on Immigration policy or its laws, but it seems fairly far-fetched to me that a man who would apply for citizenship almost 20 years ago has heard nothing, yet his case is now before the California Supreme Court. In 1996, the United States Congress passed a law barring illegal immigrants from receiving professional licenses of any kind from government agencies, specifically, through usage of public funds. The exception? If state lawmakers vote otherwise, which is where Garcia has gone. And though an official decision isn't expected for another 90 days, the seven justices on the California Supreme Court all expressed doubt that Garcia's petition would succeed. Among the comments came these from Justice Ming Chin and Justice Goodwin Liu:
Chin:
Liu:
I'm not sure if the justices are encouraging State Legislature to pass such a law, which would take longer than ninety days. But here's the rub: California Attorney General Kamala Harris is Garcia's biggest public supporter, who has said the following:
Perhaps the state could act, and allow those like Garcia, who came to the U.S. and applied for citizenship, to be granted licenses. It would take some time, but such a law is within the jurisdiction of state Legislature to pass. Garcia, whether it be through law or the California Supreme Court, is getting anxious, as a recent Facebook post of his shows:
One could argue that Garcia has a sense of entitlement, the same that the workers striking at McDonald's have. The difference is that Garcia has done something about it. He went to community college before going to law school, working his way through the entire time. He passed the Bar Exam on the first try, something that over 50% of Americans fail to do.
With all of this in his favor, it seems a slam dunk that Garcia should be granted a law license, does it not? That's what my heart tells me. My head? It says otherwise.
The man wants to fight to uphold the laws of the state and country that he himself is in violation of. Instead of applying for temporary citizenship and then coming to the States, he came in illegally, and has been living here illegally ever since. Do I feel for the man? Absolutely. He applied for citizenship in 1994, and it's yet to be granted. But that's my heart talking.
My head says otherwise. If I were to hedge a bet, it's due to the fact that he came to the country illegally, and has been living here illegally since, which makes him a lesser priority then those who have applied in the legal fashion.
There's something larger at stake here, and that's the idea that someone who's lived outside the law for his entire adult life being able to practice law. If the California Supreme Court(doubtfully) acquiesces his request, or legislation passes a law allowing illegal immigrants to receive professional licenses, it opens Pandora's Box for other people who have come to the country illegally to receieve licenses as well. I suppose they can be picky and selective, and Garcia the man would definitely be the type they'ld take. Other than living in violation of civil law by living in the country illegally, he's been a model 'citizen', no pun intended. But he did come here illegally when he was 17, instead of waiting for like those who do come legally and thus are afforded equal rights.
Garcia shouldn't have it both ways. He wants his 'American Dream', but he didn't go about pursuing it the right way. Is it a shame he hasn't received an answer yet on his request for citizenship? Sure. But it wouldn't be a worry if he had entered the country legally in the first place. And he shouldn't be able to practice the very law he's breaking on a daily basis.
My heart says yes, but my head? No. And if I were a Justice on the California Supreme Court, that's how I'd vote.
If you were a justice on the California Supreme Court, would you vote to allow Sergio(not the golfer) Garcia to practice law? Why or why not?
You know the drill. Thoughts, comments, discussion, all welcome. Let's hear it.
