Canadian Border Security won't allow Amish man back into US

[ghostie79]

Man, this stinks! I can totally understand (and agree with) the reasoning, but I wish he could get back in to be with his family! If they break the rule with him, though....

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Border security thwarts Amish man’s return
Anti-terror measures, biblical belief combine to keep man in Canada
The Associated Press
Updated: 6:17 p.m. ET March 05, 2004

PITTSBURGH - An Amish man who visited his ailing father in Canada has not been allowed to return because of border security aimed at thwarting terrorists. The man, adhering to the Bible’s prohibition of graven images, has no photo identification.

According to officials in Licking Township, a municipality of 475 people midway between Pittsburgh and the New York border, U.S. officials told the man photo waivers once granted the Amish have been cut off due to security concerns.

Canadian border guards allowed the man into the country to visit his father in Ontario just before Christmas; the United States has prevented his return. The man’s wife and child remain in the United States.

The border policy was altered when the Department of Homeland Security absorbed the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said attorney Mark Knapp of the international law firm Reed Smith, which took on the case Friday.


“We have a conflict between First Amendment rights and national security interests,” Knapp said.

Calls to Homeland Security were not immediately returned Friday. The family’s name has not been released.

Amish scholars say the restrictions could adversely affect the Old Order Amish who have historic ties to Pennsylvania and travel regularly from the states of Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania to Ontario, where there is a huge community.

Several experts in Amish culture said, however, they were unaware of any similar cases.

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[bestmidwest]

That's terrible. From what I know of the Amish at least the community will be looking out for his wife and child while he's being detained.

[crazytimes]

So now the Amish are supposedly the new wave of terrorists?

[Juliannaluv]

Originally Posted by crazytimes

So now the Amish are supposedly the new wave of terrorists?

I don't think the fact that he's Amish is the issue. it is the fact that he has no photo ID...which is against his religious & cultural beliefs. Essentially they are saying that if you don't have a photo ID you will not be alllowed back in the country if you leave. I suppose it would have been nice of them to inform him of this before he left, huh?

It certainly does appear as though his Constitutional rights & the interest of Ntional security are in conflict. I'd have to believe that the Constitution should override the new national security rules at this point.

Uh Oh...this could get political.

[crazytimes]

I just think we are going overboard. You know why? Terrorists aren't dumb! Of course they have photo ID's. You think if they are planning something big they are going to be dumb enough to not create some sort of fake identities? And I'm not talking about the fake ID's kids get to buy beer.

I wonder how he has survived without a photo ID though. You can't do many things these days without identification.

[pandybat]

Geez...that's bad. He can go into Canada without a picture ID but the US won't let him back in without one. Doesn't make sense. Someone should have told him that beforehand.
You'd think he could still get back in with ID's that stated his address or something.

[crazytimes]

Nope. Cuz we all know that our pictures ID's look just like us

[Pipanella]

This is only one area where not having a photo ID causes problems for the Amish. In our dental office, we offer Care Credit, which is a line of credit for extensive dental work. There's a large population of Amish near me, and we have many Amish patients. The first time I tried to call in an application for an account for one of our Amish patients, Care Credit wouldn't okay it, because the applicant did not have a driver's license or a photo ID. I talked to our rep about it, and they came up with a code phrase to be used only in case of an Amish patient. They make an exception for them, but only after it was brought to their attention that it was an issue.

The Amish almost NEVER borrow money and in our experience, when they do, they pay it back very quickly. We have never ever had a problem with an Amish account.

[3tbear]

What a shame! That poor man, and his wife and child, they must miss him terribly. I hope they let him into the country soon.

[Rockabillie]

I don't know why having a photo ID would make him any less of a person.

I do think they should have to obey the same laws as other Americans. If you don't want to obey America's laws, you're free to move to Canada or somewhere else.

One has to be able to function in life; I hope the Amish back off and let members get IDs now or they won't be able to cross international borders any more.

[Juliannaluv]

Originally Posted by Rockabillie

I don't know why having a photo ID would make him any less of a person.

I do think they should have to obey the same laws as other Americans. If you don't want to obey America's laws, you're free to move to Canada or somewhere else.

One has to be able to function in life; I hope the Amish back off and let members get IDs now or they won't be able to cross international borders any more.

I don't think you understand. It is not a matter of the Amish not following the laws. This has to do with Biblical issues and prohibition of graven images. It is their right, due to religious beliefs and the constitution, not to have a photo taken. There is no law saying you have to have a photo ID. I agree that it can make life very difficult not to have one....I could not imagine not having some type of photo identification myself. Until recently, photo waivers were issued because of their religious beliefs. Maybe instead of a photo id, they could use finger prints??