Prerna Lal, [Email him] is a self described "Queer Fiji-Indian (South Asian) law student, writer, tech-geek, and riot maker." He's mentioned in Allan Wall's column today, as a professionally indignant immigration blogger. His latest effusion on the subject of illegal immigration is this:

Morons of the Week: California State Bar Association Turns Into ICE

I know several attorneys who are undocumented but passed the bar and practice in California. It thoroughly disgusts me that the California state bar has started to act like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is requiring hard-working law graduates for their "papers please."

Sergio Garcia was brought to this country from Mexico when he was 17 months old by his parents, the Daily Journal (sub. req.) reports in a lengthy article. The state bar only recently began asking applicants about their immigration status, so there apparently are other California lawyers already admitted to practice (the newspaper talked to at least one) who aren't legal residents of the U.S.

Sponsored by a relative, Garcia says he's been waiting 17 years for a green card and expects it could be another 15 years before he gets one. Noting that the vetting process is supposed to be about character and fitness to practice, he says "What was my moral duty at 17 months?"

Read more here.

Let's be real. This isn't just a bar on undocumented immigrant lawyers. It's a bar on people of color lawyers.[More]

Let's get real—lawyers aren't supposed to be criminals, even if they are "people of color." The California Attorney's Oath requires all applicants for the bar to swear this

I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of an attorney and counsellor at law to the best of my knowledge and ability.[PDF]

I don't see how this illegal alien can swear to that, and even if he did, and they believed him, it would be illegal for him to work as lawyer, since a BigLaw firm that hired him would be an illegal employer, and I think even an ordinary criminal who hired him to defend him in court would be as much in violation of the law as people who hire day labor.

I would say that Prerna Lal qualifies for Moron Of The Year.