Amish Man Who Refused Photo Sues Gov't

abc ^ | 4/2/04

[knak]

Amish Man Who Refused Photographs in Immigation Proceedings Sues Government

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH April 2 — A Canadian Amish man whose immigration application was rejected when he refused to be photographed sued the government Friday, accusing federal officials of violating his religious rights. The man is a member of the Old Order Amish, a sect that takes literally the Bible's prohibition against graven images. The man's wife, who is also Amish, is American. They are not identified in the lawsuit.

The couple, who have a daughter, want a judge to throw out federal rules requiring photographs to be submitted with a residency petition. They also ask that the man be allowed to return to the United States as a permanent resident, said their attorney, Mark Knapp.

The man first came to the United States in July 2001 as a nonimmigrant visitor after he married his wife the month before. His wife petitioned for his permanent residency, according to the lawsuit.

The couple were interviewed by immigration officials in June 2002 and told they would have to submit their photographs, according to the lawsuit. The couple refused and the petition was later denied.

According to the lawsuit, similar requests for religious exemptions have been accepted in the past.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney's office in Pittsburgh declined to comment, saying they hadn't seen the lawsuit.

In January, after the family visited Canada to see the man's sick father, the man was stopped at the border and told he could not return because he didn't have a photo ID.

The man was allowed back into the United States on Thursday so he can attend an April 21 removal proceeding. Knapp said he will ask the courts to delay that hearing until the lawsuit is heard.

[Agnes Heep]

A photograph is no more a graven image than a reflection in a mirror.

[cripplecreek]

Gotta keep those amish suicide bombers out?

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[boomop1]

Send him back.

[Drango]

We don't want no Canuks....

[Possenti]

Sorry. A person's personal religious beliefs are no longer respected in this country. After all, we're at waaahhrrr!

[cripplecreek]

Now that I think about it, I question this guys sincerity as an amish man. Its easy to give ones self a name only to use it as validation of an issue.

[Pafreedom]

This country was founded upon religious freedom. The Amish Old Order Amish around here take graven images very seriously. Tracking a nuke around the country in the back of a buggy should not be very hard. Let him in. BTW if they don't use electricity or phones how do you build WMD's

[Scenic Sounds]

ABC should have included a photo of the guy with this story. ;-)

[HighWheeler]

1839 by Daguerre

[Ophiucus]

Sorry. A person's personal religious beliefs are no longer respected in this country. After all, we're at waaahhrrr!

Right, the government should compromise and say that if he has an artist do a miniature portrait and submit it with an affidavit of accuracy of image since a photograph is so inconvenient to his religion. Or here's an idea, he could stay in Canada where he won't have to make a picture excuse.

Since there is such a worry about freedom of religion - how long until a Muslim sues the government saying that the War on Terror is interfering with his religious right to follow the Koran and kill Christians and Jews.

After all, they just want to practice their religion freely - what's a few hundred corpses when it comes to religious freedom.

[Pafreedom]

You have got to be kidding. A peaceful people that limit contact with outsiders are lumped in with Islam? I don't think so. They don't use our schools or SS and take care of themselves. Do you really want to be so paranoid. If Islamists pose as Amish they will really stand out. Camels pulling a buggy will be a dead giveaway.

[Alberta's Child]

Maybe they should compromise and let him use a picture of his @ss instead -- it probably wouldn't make any difference.

[Possenti]

his religious right to follow the Koran and kill Christians and Jews.

A very small percentage believe this - probably the same percentage of "Christians" who advocate killing Jews and Muslims, and the same percentage of Jews who want the "next holocaust" to include Christians and Muslims. These people do not represent the majority of their respective religions.

Who is the real threat to our liberties? I would feel much safer with an Arab living next door to me than a Homeland Security officer.

[annyokie]

The Amish do not allow their faces to be photographed.

[dpa5923]

You're right. It's not like a white muslim terrorist could lie about being Amish.

[auntdot]

I see, so we should have a law that says Amish can avoid having their pictures taken but Muslims cannot?

This is not about some Amish guy.

This is about defending our borders.

And as soon as you allow someone to come in without a picture you are setting a precedent that will permit anyone, repeat anyone, to come into our country without necessary identification, merely because he/she declares religious freedom.