The world is Kichul Lee’s oyster. Well, at least America should be. He lives here legally, and he passed the citizenship tests. What could stand in his way? Unfortunately, citizenship is closed for Mr. Lee.

A few years ago he collected a bucket of oysters on Puget Sound, was caught for going over the limit and fined $153. On that basis alone the Citizenship and Immigration Services denied his application to become a citizen. He “failed to establish . . . good moral character.” Mr. Lee’s crime was a mere misdemeanor. The game warden who ticketed Lee for the oyster violation was shocked to learn of the ultimate consequence of that one citation.

“It would have been very nice if [the Immigration Service] had contacted me to discuss the case. . . . I wouldn’t consider it serious at all,” he said. Now, I know what some of you are thinking: Keep as many people out of the country as possible. But Mr. Lee is legally in the country. He’s not going to get kicked out. He pays taxes. He obeys the laws now, I bet, even the oyster laws. He just can’t vote. But he is American enough to sue.

A number of would-be Americans who’ve been denied on similar grounds have joined in a class action lawsuit. They want the rules clarified. And they want to be reconsidered. More power to them. Moral character’s important. But to demand perfection of moral character is idiotic. How many natural-born citizens would deserve to stay? America should stand for character but also common sense.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.