SAN FRANCISCO – A California attorney who successfully fought a legal battle to practice law despite his immigration status can now live in the country legally.
Sergio Garcia got his green card Thursday and can practice law and live in the U.S. without fear of arrest and deportation to his native Mexico.
The 38-year-old Garcia first applied for permanent U.S. residency in 1994.
He was granted a law license in 2014 after a five-year legal and political battle that included opposition from the Obama administration and a favorable ruling in January from the California Supreme Court.
The license was granted after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a specially crafted bill passed by the Legislature to let Garcia practice law.
Garcia represents car accident victims and settled his first legal case on Wednesday.
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