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Idaho doctor, patients sue over new law halting public benefits to immigrants in US unlawfully
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FILE - The James A. McClure Federal Building & United States Courthouse, which houses the U.S. District Court, in seen in Boise, Idaho, on Jan. 19, 2007. - photo by AP Photo/Troy Maben, File
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho doctor and four residents are challenging a new state law that halts some of the few public benefits available to people living in the U.S. unlawfully, including a program that provides access to life-saving HIV and AIDS medication for low income patients. The ACLU of Idaho filed the federal lawsuit Thursday night on behalf of Dr. Abby Davids and four people with HIV who are not named because they are immigrants without lawful permanent residency. The complaint says the new law is vague, contradicts federal law and makes it impossible for health care providers to determine exactly what kind of immigration status is excluded and how to verify that status for patients.