This week, U.S. Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), Mike Carey (R-Ohio), Richard Neal (D-Mass.), and Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) introduced the Religious Workforce Protection Act. This bipartisan bill aims to allow religious workers in the United States on temporary Religious Worker (R-1) visas to remain in the country while their special immigrant (EB-4) applications for permanent residency are pending.
The initiative is meant to help foreign-born religious workers continue their services in American communities without interruption. “Miami is home to hundreds of faith communities that rely on religious workers to do God’s work,” said Rep. Salazar. “I’m proud to co-lead the Religious Workforce Protection Act to ensure our congregations have the personnel they need to keep the faith alive and growing.”
Rep. Carey highlighted the reliance of religious organizations on these workers amidst current EB-4 processing delays. “Religious organizations across the country continuously rely on religious workers to help meet the needs of their communities. That’s why I’m proud to lead this common sense, bipartisan legislation to ensure that places of worship can operate without disruptions despite the current backlog in EB-4 processing times,” he added.
Rep. Neal expressed concerns about the delays affecting Massachusetts and broader challenges faced by faith-based institutions nationwide. “For years, my office has worked with religious organizations across western Massachusetts to help bring religious workers to the United States to serve in their congregations. Recently, we began hearing from the Springfield Diocese about priests at risk of having to return to their home country due to delays in processing their green cards. Failure to address this issue would affect not just Massachusetts, but faith-based organizations nationwide,” he stated.
Rep. Stauber emphasized the significance of religious workers. “Religious workers play a vital role in our communities. It is important that we address the current backlogs to ensure they continue to provide their crucial services. That is why I am proud to support this common-sense legislation with my colleagues,” he said.
Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus expressed gratitude for the legislative effort led by Rep. Carey, stating, “I am deeply grateful for the efforts and leadership of Congressman Carey in finding a solution through the Religious Workforce Protection Act to allow many of our religious priests and sisters to continue to serve the People of God and our local communities through their ministry.” He emphasized the critical role priests and religious workers play in fostering community and providing essential services.
The current law restricts religious workers with R-1 visas to a maximum stay of five years in the U.S. They must return to their home countries for a year before they can re-enter, affecting the organizations that rely on them.
The proposed law would empower the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary to extend the R-1 status beyond the five-year limit until a decision on the EB-4 application is reached. This extension would only apply if the religious institution has petitioned for the worker’s EB-4 status and the worker is otherwise eligible for permanent residency.
Additionally, the legislation allows for some job flexibility for religious workers awaiting their EB-4 status, ensuring they do not need to restart the process due to job changes or promotions.
The Senate has its version of the bill, introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho).
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