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View the Writ of mandate filed by Lexington residents

(WHAS11) - Some Lexington residents filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday morning that could affect the way local governments in Kentucky provide services to illegal immigrants.

The plaintiffs want the court to make the city of Lexington and other government entities stop providing benefits to illegal immigrants.

The citizens filed what's called a "writ of mandate".

That's a lawsuit asking the federal government to force the city and state to enforce existing law.

They say that as it stands now, Kentucky agencies are breaking the law by providing millions of dollars in public benefits to illegal aliens.

What happens might determine what kind of help illegal immigrants in Kentucky and throughout the country will get in the future.

The lawsuit also calls on local governments to enlist the help of ICE, or Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, to arrest and deport illegal immigrants found in our communities.

WHAS11’s Adam Walser has the story. Watch Adam's Story

View the Writ of mandate filed by Lexington residents