SYRACUSE -- A citizens group is suing to reverse the U.S. Department of Interior's decision to place 13,004 acres of upstate New York land into federal trust for the Oneida Indian Nation.

In legal papers filed in U.S. District Court Tuesday, Upstate Citizens for Equality contends the federal agency does not have the authority to place the land in Madison and Oneida counties into trust, a move it says violates the New York state constitution.

The interior department announced the long-awaited decision last month to put the land into trust for the Oneidas, a status that exempts the land from local and state taxes and regulations but makes it subject to most federal laws.

Spokesmen say New York state and the two counties will also file a joint lawsuit to contest the decision.