Amish couple sues over photo requirement

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- An Amish couple living in Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit charging the Department of Homeland Security and immigration officials with religious discrimination.

The suit contends the requirement that the Canadian man and his American wife be photographed in order for him to become a permanent U.S. resident is unconstitutional, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Members of the Old Order Amish believe being photographed is a sin because the Old Testament forbids graven images.

The 20-page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday lists the plaintiffs as John and Jane Doe out of fear that using real names will cause them to be shunned in their community.

They filed a similar lawsuit in 2004 that was dismissed by a local judge on grounds the husband had no constitutional rights to protect because of his immigrant status at the time, the report said.

He began the process of obtaining permanent residence status in December of 2004, providing all the necessary documents except for the required photographs.