Justice Department Moves To Prevent Undocumented Immigrants From Practicing Law

Justice Dept: Undocumented Immigrants Can't Practice Law
BELLEFONTE, PA - JUNE 17: The defense table sits empty inside the courtroom of the Centre County Courthouse, on June 17, 2012 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. This week the defense will be begin its argument's in the sexual abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky who is charged with 52 criminal counts of alleged sexual abuse of children. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
BELLEFONTE, PA - JUNE 17: The defense table sits empty inside the courtroom of the Centre County Courthouse, on June 17, 2012 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. This week the defense will be begin its argument's in the sexual abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky who is charged with 52 criminal counts of alleged sexual abuse of children. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The Justice Department is dashing the hopes of undocumented immigrants who want to practice law in the United States.

In a brief to the California Supreme Court, the Justice Departments says undocumented immigrants cannot practice law because they are not legally entitled to benefits administered by public agencies—including bar licenses.

Federal law prohibits undocumented immigrants from making use of public benefits issued by a state agency for other entity funded by the U.S. or state governments. The Justice Department argues that the law bars Garcia from receiving a license to practice law, because the California courts receive federal funds.

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