A state law denying public services to undocumented immigrants is an illegal attempt to regulate immigration, a task that belongs to the federal government, a judge ruled.

"State agencies are not permitted to assume that authority," U.S. District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer ruled Monday in striking down portions of California's voter-approved Proposition 187 as unconstitutional.She did not, however, strike down provisions that deny higher education benefits to undocumented students. And she said the state may be able to deny benefits under programs that it funds on its own.

In November 1994, 59 percent of California voters approved the measure to deny public education, social services and nonemergency health care to illegal immigrants. Supporters of the measure argue that illegal immigrants cost the state billions of dollars in services annually.

Immigrant rights advocates sued and Pfaelzer issued a preliminary injunction in December that barred enforcement of most of the provisions pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.

Pfaelzer issued Monday's ruling in response to a motion for judgment filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups.

Attorney General Dan Lungren said he would appeal and predicted the case would end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The judge also struck down as unconstitutional the law's requirement that teachers, health-care workers and social workers report information about applicants' immigration status. She said undocumented immigrants can't be questioned about their status.

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