Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Address Religious Worker Visa Backlog
U.S. Senators, including Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Susan Collins, have introduced the Religious Workforce Protection Act. This bipartisan bill aims to address a visa backlog affecting religious workers, such as Catholic priests, who are currently in the United States on temporary R-1 visas.
The issue stems from a 2023 change in U.S. visa rules that increased the number of EB-4 visa applicants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This created a significant backlog, threatening to force religious workers whose temporary R-1 visas expire to return to their home countries and wait for potentially many years before obtaining permanent residency (an EB-4 visa or green card).
Details of the Proposed Solution
The Religious Workforce Protection Act proposes a specific fix. It would grant the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to extend the temporary R-1 nonimmigrant status for religious workers beyond the current five-year limit. This extension would be possible while their application for permanent residence is pending, allowing them to remain in the U.S. and continue their work without interruption.
A similar legislative measure has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Support from Catholic Bishops
Several U.S. Catholic bishops have publicly supported the proposed legislation. Bishop Mark Seitz, chairman of the USCCB’s migration committee, praised the bipartisan effort, highlighting the importance of foreign-born religious workers to U.S. communities.
Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond, Virginia, noted the deep impact the potential loss of clergy due to visa issues has on parishioners and religious life, welcoming the bill’s potential to ease this burden. Bishop James Ruggieri of Portland, Maine, described the measure as “critically needed,” and Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, stated it would allow religious priests and sisters to continue their ministry within local communities.
This legislative effort follows earlier calls from Church officials, including Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki and the USCCB’s migration committee, urging the federal government to address the visa backlog and its negative consequences for religious institutions and the communities they serve.
