Should Undocumented Immigrants Be Allowed To Become Attorneys

[Formaldehyde]

You'd think that he's the sort of immigrant your country wants - lawful, well educated, has pretty much lived all his life in the U.S. anyway

Wouldn't it make sense to make an exception in his case and give him citizenship? Or is the logic that it would set a bad precedent?

The vast majority of undocumented immigrants and their children are model citizens. They really have to be, or they will be deported for violating a misdemeanor which is rarely prosecuted on its own.

This is why I think this is such a great test case. If the legal system can make an exception for him, they will likely have to rethink how so many other hardworking and deserving undocumented immigrants are treated.

 

[Antilogic]

I'm surprised the U.S. doesn't have a better system in place to deal with situations like these

It's one of those perennial election year issues that never seriously gets resolved.

 

[Cutlass]

If the guy is that bright and motivated, then it would be a crime to deport him.

 

[illram]

Florida is notorious for having one of the harshest moral character screening processes in the country for bar applicants.

There are two issues here: moral character (e.g., honesty) and whether his status may affect his representation of his clients.

If his documentation status does not affect his moral character, i.e., he did not do anything dishonest, and from his story it would appear it does not, no issues there. He will swear the same oath we all do, and we have no reason to distrust his affirmation to uphold the law and the constitution of the USA.

The only pitfall I can see is his clients may run the risk of hiring an attorney who may, randomly, be deported. Come to think of it that might be significant but I am not up on immigration procedure enough to know the likelihood of that every occurring. If the odds are the same as your attorney, say, randomly being hit by a bus, then give him his license for God's sake.

 

[Cutlass]

Obama's deportment record, while aggressive, is focused on those people who have committed crimes other than just being in the country illegally. So he might be more or less safe if he keeps his head down.

 

[NickyJ]

As an undocumented immigrant, I do no think he should be allowed to become an attorney. However, once he gets a visa he should be allowed to.

This. I mean, he's studied law, so he should know that he has to be apply for citizenship.

You'd think that he's the sort of immigrant your country wants - lawful, well educated, has pretty much lived all his life in the U.S. anyway

Wouldn't it make sense to make an exception in his case and give him citizenship? Or is the logic that it would set a bad precedent?

Umm, being an illegal isn't exactly lawful...

 

[illram]

Obama's deportment record, while aggressive, is focused on those people who have committed crimes other than just being in the country illegally. So he might be more or less safe if he keeps his head down.

True... but what about the next President? And the one after him?

A client relationship can easily outlast one Executive Administration or one or two changes in deportation policies.

 

[kochman]

Should an illegal alien practice law?

Well, do we allow people who are actively breaking the law to practice it?

If he gets his paperwork straight, sure, practice away.

Until then, play be the rules if you want to specifically be involved in debating the rules.

 

[kochman]

I'm pretty sure he would have had to leave the country (and thus suspend his studies) to apply for a legal visa. Not really a great option.

Not true...
There are many paths to citizenship that don't require that... a big, obvious one... marriage.
Anyhow, with a US law degree, he can probably fair pretty well in his home country, if he did take that path, I have zero sympathy for him breaking the rules that most follow.

I'm all for immigrants, just do it the right way... it sucks, I brought my ex-wife through in the legal way, expensive, pain in the ass, etc... but it is the right thing to do.
Coming into your new country with the, well, I know the rules, but I'll just do whatever the hell I want is not exactly endearing to the locals.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Well, do we allow people who are actively breaking the law to practice it?

I dare say there are numerous attorneys whose parents committed minor misdemeanors, much less done so themselves.

 

[downtown]

Not true...
There are many paths to citizenship that don't require that... a big, obvious one... marriage.
Anyhow, with a US law degree, he can probably fair pretty well in his home country, if he did take that path, I have zero sympathy for him breaking the rules that most follow.

I'm all for immigrants, just do it the right way... it sucks, I brought my ex-wife through in the legal way, expensive, pain in the ass, etc... but it is the right thing to do.
Coming into your new country with the, well, I know the rules, but I'll just do whatever the hell I want is not exactly endearing to the locals.

It's different if your visa is already expired...the traditional avenues for residency extension are often closed (as a way to encourage leaving when your visa expires). He prob could stick around if he marries an American, but do we want to encourage sham marriages?

I've had cousins try the wait and stall method, and uncle Sam booted em back to Brazil while their applications were being processed.

 

[GenMarshall]

He should get his citizenship first before becoming an attorney here in the US. He had all the time in the world to work on it.

 

[EnglishEdward]

I suggest he applies to go somewhere sensible like Canada.

 

[Mise]

If he's a (part-)qualified lawyer then surely it would be very easy for him to obtain a work visa?

I don't think that people who have no legal right to work in a country should be allowed to work in the country (duh). But I see very, very few reasons to deny people work visas.

 

[dIZZyBlIZZy]

He should get his citizenship first before becoming an attorney here in the US. He had all the time in the world to work on it.

He should (though not required to) get citizenship eventually. He's trained in a high skill market, there's no reason why a work visa cannot be expedited. It smells like this whole thing is just being used to create a story.

 

[kochman]

I dare say there are numerous attorneys whose parents committed minor misdemeanors, much less done so themselves.

What part of actively did you not understand?

 

[downtown]

What part of actively did you not understand?

So you can't be a lawyer if you speed?

 

[illram]

Well, do we allow people who are actively breaking the law to practice it?

If he gets his paperwork straight, sure, practice away.

Until then, play be the rules if you want to specifically be involved in debating the rules.

There are a few states that allow you to become a lawyer if you have a felony on your record. CA is one of them I believe.

 

[NetGear]

He should (though not required to) get citizenship eventually. He's trained in a high skill market, there's no reason why a work visa cannot be expedited. It smells like this whole thing is just being used to create a story.

It does seem intentional. He's just trying to represent people like him who in most cases aren't well versed in. us law to make their cases. It is bit of trolling and noble attempt at the same time imo.

 

[warpus]

Umm, being an illegal isn't exactly lawful...

You guys have turned a blind eye to millions of illegal immigrants working millions of various jobs.. and it's this guy who gets turned away?

Who exactly do you want in your country? Uneducated immigrants or educated ones?