This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25583019

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Illegal immigrant Sergio Garcia gets California law license Illegal immigrant Sergio Garcia gets California law license
(about 1 hour later)
The supreme court of California has granted a law license to an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who has lived for years in the US.The supreme court of California has granted a law license to an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who has lived for years in the US.
Sergio Garcia, 36, arrived in the US nearly two decades ago without papers.Sergio Garcia, 36, arrived in the US nearly two decades ago without papers.
He attended law school and passed the California bar exam, but has not yet been granted a visa.He attended law school and passed the California bar exam, but has not yet been granted a visa.
Mr Garcia challenged a 1996 law barring illegal immigrants from receiving professional licences, a rule later changed by Governor Jerry Brown.Mr Garcia challenged a 1996 law barring illegal immigrants from receiving professional licences, a rule later changed by Governor Jerry Brown.
The new lawyer was born in Mexico in 1977 and brought to California less than two years later, according to a statement from the California supreme court.The new lawyer was born in Mexico in 1977 and brought to California less than two years later, according to a statement from the California supreme court.
He later returned to Mexico with his family, but illegally re-entered the US when he was 17 years old. He returned to Mexico with his family at age nine, but illegally re-entered the US when he was 17.
'Good moral character''Good moral character'
Mr Garcia's father, who had legally obtained resident status, filed for a visa on his son's behalf soon after.Mr Garcia's father, who had legally obtained resident status, filed for a visa on his son's behalf soon after.
But because of a long backlog of applicants, Mr Garcia has not yet been granted a visa.But because of a long backlog of applicants, Mr Garcia has not yet been granted a visa.
He picked almonds and worked in a grocery store to pay his way through university and law school, later passing the California bar examination on his first attempt. He picked almonds and worked in a grocery store to pay his way through university and Cal Northern School of Law, later passing the California bar examination on his first attempt.
Mr Garcia subsequently challenged a 1996 federal law barring people living in the US illegally from receiving professional licenses from government agencies or with the use of public funds.Mr Garcia subsequently challenged a 1996 federal law barring people living in the US illegally from receiving professional licenses from government agencies or with the use of public funds.
The federal government argued the California court's budget was funded by public money, thus precluding him from being granted a license.The federal government argued the California court's budget was funded by public money, thus precluding him from being granted a license.
But, following court arguments in the case, Mr Brown signed a new state law in October - to take effect on 1 January - authorising the granting of the license. Meanwhile, Mr Brown signed a series of immigrant rights bill in October, including one allowing undocumented people to be granted law licenses. That law took effect on 1 January.
On Thursday, the state's supreme court unanimously ruled in favour of Mr Garcia, determining he "possesses the requisite good moral character to qualify for a law license", the statement concluded.On Thursday, the state's supreme court unanimously ruled in favour of Mr Garcia, determining he "possesses the requisite good moral character to qualify for a law license", the statement concluded.