Citizenship is not the issue.

As an attorney who applied to The Florida Bar without either citizenship or permanent residency, I strongly support that citizenship should not factor in Bar admissions.

The proposed amendment to Bar Rule 1-3.1 to provide, "No person who has complied with the requirements for admission to The Florida Bar shall be disqualified because he or she is not a United States citizen" remains reasonable and appropriate.

But the issue of undocumented or out-of-status applicants is an appropriate factor in meeting the requirements for admission to The Florida Bar.

While there is great sympathy for many who find themselves--often through no fault of their own--in the United States illegally, this is a continuing criminal act that is incompatible with being admitted to The Florida Bar. Currently, the Bar application requires a photocopy of "the immigration document that documents your status for submission to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for verification of authenticity" for all...