Many DACA reciepents had the dream to obtain a professional license or enlist in the armed forces upon receipt of their DACA approvals.
Unfortunately, I have had to inform many of these bright minds that although they may have been granted deferred action they are currently NOT allowed to enlist in the armed forces and they may not be eligilble to obtain certain profesional licenses. It makes no sense to me to give these youth a work permit, a social security card and a driver's license, but deny them a bar license, a license to practice medicine, a realtor's license, a contractor's license, pilot's license etc., or the ability to serve our country if they wish to do so and pass the tests.
The deciding case in california will likely be that of Sergio Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who attended and graduated law school in the US, he passed the CA bar, but is being denied his bar license because he is undocumented. That decision is currently being appealed but as it stands right now, undocumented immigrants can be denied federal and state professional and commercial licenses.
There is another case in Florida, where Jose Godinez, a DACA approved undocumented youth graduated from law school and passed the Florida bar, he is also being denied a bar license, the Florida Supreme Court will likely rule in his favor allowing him to finally become an immigration attorney.
This is yet another issue that individual states will have to decide and just like we saw for driver's licenses, the states will be all over the board, some will likely allow DACA recipients to get professional licenses, while others won't.
CA is a progressive state, I hope this issue gets cleared up soon so our DACA recipients can reach their full potential and acheive their dreams. In the meantime, this is yet another reason why the country needs a federal dream act or comprehensive Immigration reform so that DACA reciepients are treated equally across the US.
Unfortunately, I have had to inform many of these bright minds that although they may have been granted deferred action they are currently NOT allowed to enlist in the armed forces and they may not be eligilble to obtain certain profesional licenses. It makes no sense to me to give these youth a work permit, a social security card and a driver's license, but deny them a bar license, a license to practice medicine, a realtor's license, a contractor's license, pilot's license etc., or the ability to serve our country if they wish to do so and pass the tests.
The deciding case in california will likely be that of Sergio Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who attended and graduated law school in the US, he passed the CA bar, but is being denied his bar license because he is undocumented. That decision is currently being appealed but as it stands right now, undocumented immigrants can be denied federal and state professional and commercial licenses.
There is another case in Florida, where Jose Godinez, a DACA approved undocumented youth graduated from law school and passed the Florida bar, he is also being denied a bar license, the Florida Supreme Court will likely rule in his favor allowing him to finally become an immigration attorney.
This is yet another issue that individual states will have to decide and just like we saw for driver's licenses, the states will be all over the board, some will likely allow DACA recipients to get professional licenses, while others won't.
CA is a progressive state, I hope this issue gets cleared up soon so our DACA recipients can reach their full potential and acheive their dreams. In the meantime, this is yet another reason why the country needs a federal dream act or comprehensive Immigration reform so that DACA reciepients are treated equally across the US.
RSS Feed
