SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Utah Supreme Court approved a rule change enabling residents who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children to become attorneys.
The court ruling that took effect Wednesday applied to those who have qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as DACA.
The administrative program does not convey legal status but allows temporary protection from deportation and permission to legally work. Opponents say it rewards people for breaking the law, encourages illegal immigration and hurts American workers.
The Utah ruling will allow people who receive deferred action status under DACA or another policy to be eligible for admission to the Utah State Bar if they meet all other admission requirements.
Two women identified as Jane and Mary Doe in court filings brought the case before the court last year. They were brought to the United States as children and have been granted DACA status.
One of the women attended Brigham Young University and the other attended the University of Utah. Both passed California’s bar exam but could not practice law in Utah.
Attorneys for the women wrote they “lacked the intent” to violate immigration laws. The women would be eligible to take Utah’s bar exam, except for their immigration status.
A section of U.S. code prohibits people who are not lawfully present in the country from receiving certain government benefits, including professional licenses. But the same code section allows states to “opt out” if a state enacts a law to contradict the federal code, a statement by the Utah Supreme Court said.
Utah’s high court proposed a rule change in December and took 100 public comments from lawyers, public officials and citizens who were largely supportive of the change.
New York and Pennsylvania have enacted similar rules, the court statement said.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.