Religious Worker Visas at Issue in 9th Circuit

Thursday, September 06, 2012
Last Update: 11:04 AM PT
By NICK MCCANN

(CN) - Arguing before the 9th Circuit, attorneys debated whether a government immigration agency violated the rights of religious workers who applied for special visas.

Sixteen immigrants and sponsoring churches with special religious worker visas sued U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in 2007, claiming it violated their rights and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

Immigrants may apply for a five-year special visa for religious purposes. When that visa expires, the government gives them 180 days to adjust their status.

The plaintiffs argue that the government should allow religious workers to concurrently file applications with their sponsoring organization to adjust their immigration status. Immigration Services' failure to do so violates their right to practice religion, they claim.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/09/06/50006.htm

While this case concerns an Orthodox priest from the Ukraine, I recall that many of the priests at the Sikh temple which was attacked also are here on religious worker visas. As the country becomes more religiously diverse, this may become a larger issue.