Trump administration urged by Catholic supporters to handle the backlog of religious worker visas

In the ongoing debate over immigration reform, a significant bipartisan bill has emerged, seeking to address the unique challenges faced by immigrant religious workers in the United States. The Religious Workforce Protection Act, introduced in April 2022, is gaining attention as it navigates through the legislative process.

The bill, if passed, would not increase the limit on visas granted but would focus on alleviating the current backlog in the EB-4 visa category. This category is crucial for immigrant religious workers, including Catholic priests and nuns, who legally enter the U.S. on R-1 non-immigrant religious worker visas.

The bill's prospects for passing are uncertain after lawmakers return from their August recess in early September. However, proponents of the bill, such as Dylan Corbett, express optimism due to its bipartisan nature. Corbett, who believes the bill presents an opportunity to address the issues of immigrant religious workers in a broken immigration system, also suggests that the bill's passage could demonstrate the possibility of finding common ground to build a functional immigration system.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been vocal about the administration's support for the bill. Rubio emphasizes that the administration views the entry of religious workers as distinct from other immigration categories and aims to prevent headlines about religious institutions closing due to issues with the immigration process. Rubio has been in touch with U.S. cardinals and bishops regarding this process.

The bill would permit religious workers on temporary R-1 status with pending EB-4 applications to stay in the U.S. while waiting for permanent residency. Currently, these visas are initially granted for a 30-month period, with one possible renewal allowing for a total of 5 years. The passage of the bill would allow a Catholic priest with temporary R-1 status to move from one parish to another in accordance with diocesan needs without jeopardizing their status.

Catholic organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, have backed the legislation. The National Study of Catholic Priests indicates 24% of priests serving in the U.S. are foreign-born, highlighting the need for such legislation.

President Donald Trump's stance on the bill is unknown as the White House did not respond to a request for comment. Regardless, the bill's potential to address the backlog and provide stability for immigrant religious workers is a significant step towards addressing the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.

As Congress returns from its August recess, the fate of the Religious Workforce Protection Act remains uncertain. However, the bill's bipartisan support, coupled with the backing of influential Catholic organizations, offers hope for a more functional immigration system that respects and supports the contributions of immigrant religious workers.