New York Amish Threaten Statewide Exodus Over Vaccine Mandate, Take Case to Supreme Court
Around 25,000 Amish in New York warn they will leave the state if vaccine-mandate enforcement continues, as they seek a Supreme Court review of the policy.
New York’s roughly 25,000-strong Amish population has issued an ultimatum to state officials, demanding an end to enforcement of a vaccine mandate that removed religious exemptions in 2019 under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The New York State Department of Health has levied $2,000 fines against one-room Amish schools that refuse to vaccinate, and three schools have amassed $118,000 in penalties. Attorneys for the plaintiffs warn that continued fines could force land seizures, prompting a potential mass migration to Pennsylvania, home to about 95,000 Amish.
After the 2nd Circuit reaffirmed a lower-court decision, the Amish will again petition the Supreme Court to hear their case. Legal scholars note the case hinges on whether a law that is neutral and generally applicable must also accommodate religious objections. The dispute pits public-health protection against longstanding religious-freedom traditions within a distinctive American community.
Why it matters
The outcome could determine whether large religious groups can avoid state vaccine rules, affecting public-health policy and community stability.
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