I thought
this local story about a local Amish family stranded in Canada over their lack of a picture ID (some Amish are opposed to having photographs taken on religious grounds) was quite interesting and worthy of note. Well, you might think there would be a means to facilitate the Amish community on this matter.
LICKING TWP. -- A young Amish man and his family cannot return to the United States, and the problem seems to be a conflict between homeland security and immigration policy versus the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion.
The man is a citizen of Canada, his wife and daughter are citizens of the United States. They are all Amish, and have a home among the Amish community in Licking Township.
The man went to Canada to visit his ailing father, and now U.S.immigration authorities will not allow him to return because he does not have a "green card," showing he is allowed to stay and work in the U.S.
Because the Amish shun publicity and because the Amish man's non-Amish friends contacted the Clarion News, the man's name will not be included in this story.
A matter of rights
A green card - officially called a lawful permanent residence card - must include a photograph, but being photographed would violate the man's religious beliefs.
Old Order Amish do not believe in being photographed because of the Biblical prohibition of the making of graven images.
There is more on
my blog for those who care.