HELENA, Mont. (AP) _ An immigrant's advocacy group and others have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn a voter-approved initiative that requires proof of citizenship for people to obtain certain state services and benefits.
The Montana Immigrant Justice Alliance, the MEA-MFT union and 22-year-old Alisha Blair of Missoula filed the lawsuit Friday. Blair was born in Canada but is a U.S. citizen.
The lawsuit seeks to block Legislative Referendum 121 from becoming law on January 1st and asks a judge to prevent it from taking effect until arguments can be heard.
The referendum requires certain state agencies to certify that people requesting services are citizens. The plaintiffs argue the referendum violates the Montana Constitution's right of individual privacy
Supporters argue it will prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining services at the expense of citizens.
