Catholic diocese sues federal agencies over green card backlog for foreign-born priests
For more than a year, religious organizations have lobbied Congress and the Biden administration to fix a sudden procedural change in how the government processes green cards for religious workers, which threatens the ability of thousands of them to continue to minister in the United States.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/catholic-diocese-sues-federal-agencies-over-green-card-backlog-for-foreign-born-priests
Religious organizations are facing challenges due to delays in green card processing for foreign-born clergy, endangering their ability to serve in the United States. The Catholic Diocese of Paterson is among the entities suing federal agencies over this issue. American dioceses rely heavily on foreign clergy, exacerbating the impact. Legislative fixes are being advocated for, but obtaining them is challenging. Administrative changes to expedite visa renewal and job changes without losing place in the green card line are suggested solutions. The current situation is described as untenable, leading to uncertainty and disruptions in religious services.