Posted on 04/02/2004 4:41:25 PM PST by 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.
Well, it will certainly make it easier to identify that person.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.