AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ The Maine Municipal Association has filed a lawsuit against Republican Gov. Paul LePage's administration over its policy banning cities from providing general assistance benefits to some immigrants.
The cities of Portland and Westbrook joined the group in the lawsuit filed Thursday in the Cumberland County Superior Court.
In a statement, the group says that the lawsuit is necessary to determine whether the Department of Health and Human Services' policy is legally binding.
The department has warned cities and towns that it will cut off all state funding for the municipal welfare program if they continues to provide assistance to immigrants who can't prove they are living in the country legally.
Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills has said that LePage doesn't have the authority to implement such a policy.