DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says a West Liberty woman from Mexico, who stayed in the United States after her visa expired, is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for a work-related injury.

The case involves Pascuala Jiminez. Her 10-year visa expired in 2001, but she was hired by Staff Management, an employment agency that placed her at Procter & Gamble in Iowa City.

Jiminez was injured on the job in September 2007 and required surgery. She was fired in January 2008. Managers say it was because she didn’t have a current visa.

She won workers’ compensation benefits in 2010. Staff Management appealed, claiming it shouldn’t have to pay a worker not authorized to work in the U.S.

The court says workers in the country illegally aren’t excluded from workers’ compensation laws.

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