04:19 PM MST on Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Associated Press

BOISE -- A federal judge today tossed out Canyon County's lawsuit against local employers who were accused by the county of hiring illegal immigrants.

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A federal judge has tossed out Canyon County's lawsuit against employers who were accused of hiring illegal immigrants.

U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge rejected the southwestern Idaho county's claim that it was damaged through having to provide increased social services for illegal immigrants, saying that was simply the cost of being a government entity.

The lawsuit had been championed by Canyon County Commissioner, Robert Vasquez, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Idaho's open First District Congressional seat.

The lawsuit had claimed that four major agricultural businesses in Canyon County had conspired to hire illegal immigrants in violation of the federal RICO law, which was designed to break up organized crime.

Lodge dismissed the county's suit in its entirety.