abajournal.com

California lawmakers pass bill allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain law licenses

Posted Sep 13, 2013 9:53 AM CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

The California Legislature has acted quickly to pass a bill that allows people who are in the country illegally to obtain law licenses.

Lawmakers approved the bill on Thursday evening, though it was introduced just last week, the Los Angeles Times reports. The measure now goes to the governor.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez introduced the bill in response to the pending California Supreme Court case of Sergio Garcia, who has passed the bar and hopes to obtain a law license. Garcia was brought to the country illegally as a toddler by his parents.

According to a press release, federal law bars undocumented immigrants from receiving professional licenses with the use of public funds, unless state law explicitly overrides the ban.

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