Cullerton pitches a ‘license to dream’

SPRINGFIELD — During his inauguration address Wednesday, Senate President John J. Cullerton told colleagues he wanted to give undocumented immigrants the chance to practice law.

Today, he took a step toward that goal by filing a measure that would allow non-citizens who arrived in the U.S. as children to become lawyers in Illinois.

As it stands, the Illinois Attorney Act prohibits people who are not U.S. citizens or who have not filed a naturalization petition and received a good-character certificate from the courts from getting law licenses.

Senate Bill 23 would delete that provision and add new language, allowing non-citizens who’ve been approved for renewable work permits under a federal policy to be granted Illinois law licenses.

The policy, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, began in 2012 under President Barack Obama and gives undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States before age 16 the chance to remain in the country.

“Now, immigration is still stalled in Washington. We need to keep moving forward here. A license to drive was the first step for our immigrant neighbors. I’d like to offer them a license to dream,” Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, said in his speech on the Senate floor.

“We need to change state law so that talented students, regardless of their immigration background, can go on to law school and become licensed practicing attorneys in Illinois.”

Cullerton’s proposal would require that a prospective lawyer have a valid employment document from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services and that their request for “deferred action” be approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and be up-to-date.

Richard D. Felice, Illinois State Bar Association president, said the group still has to review the bill before taking a stance.

He said it’s important to note that the rest of the requirements for getting a license to practice in Illinois will remain intact.

“It’s going to help people that are here, sort of the dreamers that want to move on — they’re here and want to aspire to more,” Felice said. “And that’s laudable and commendable, and I’m certain that’ll be considered in the position we take.”

Spiridoula Mavrothalasitis, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois president and an assistant inspector general, said today was the first she’s heard of the proposal and wanted to review it further.

“But I’ll just tell you off the top of my head, I think that’s great,” she said.

“If people are being allowed to stay in this country, we want them to be productive citizens. … As a lawyer, I know it’s a long path, so if someone’s willing to put in the time and effort, there’s no guaranteed job, but obviously you’re trying to better yourself and have a better paying opportunity. I think that’s great.”

The bill also requests that the Illinois Supreme Court make any necessary rule changes needed to implement the law.

Cullerton, in his speech before the newly inaugurated Senate members as well as new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and five Illinois Supreme Court justices, also called for an increase in the minimum wage and a review of the state’s criminal laws, among other things.

“The voters who sent us here want us to solve problems, improve the quality of life and open doors of economic and educational opportunity for their families,” he said. “I trust everyone is up for the challenge.”