DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A man brought to the U.S. illegally as a child is seeking to have his one-year probation for a misdemeanor conviction ended early so he can be admitted to the New York bar.
Cesar Adrian Vargas, a native of Mexico, was arrested after disrupting speeches at a Des Moines political event in January that was held on private property. Vargas interrupted New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in an auditorium filled with around 1,500 people with a question on whether he would support deporting Vargas’ 70-year-old mother, The Des Moines Register (https://dmreg.co/1MRTphL ) reported.
A Polk County jury convicted Vargas this month of trespassing, and his probation sentence has temporarily derailed his bid to become a practicing lawyer. New York policy disapproves of law licenses to someone still on probation.
Vargas’ attorney asked a judge last week to end the probation or order a $100 fine, so Vargas’ application to practice law can go before a New York committee that screens new lawyers for character and fitness.
Vargas said he was told the panel will wait for the outcome of the probation request. He had hoped to officially become a lawyer at the state’s next swear-in ceremony June 26.
A New York court this month paved the way for Vargas to practice law, after the federal government authorized him in 2013 to live and work in the country under President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The executive action has allowed people brought illegally to the country as children to avoid deportation and obtain work permits.
Vargas came to the U.S. with his mother and siblings when he was 5. He graduated from college before continuing to the City University of New York School of Law. He applied to be admitted to the state bar in 2012 after passing the bar exam, and disclosed his citizen status in his application.
Vargas said he hopes to practice immigration law while continuing his work with an immigration policy advocacy group that he co-founded.
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Information from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com
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