U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) has expressed support for a new interim final rule from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that removes a requirement affecting foreign-born religious workers in the United States.
Previously, individuals with R-1 nonimmigrant status, which is designated for religious workers, were required to leave the country for at least one year after five years of service. This policy often left churches and religious organizations without key staff members as these workers waited abroad, especially since the process for applying for permanent residency faces significant backlogs.
The recent DHS rule change now allows those who have completed five years of service to return to the United States on a new R-1 visa without having to spend a full year outside the country. The adjustment aims to ease challenges faced by faith communities nationwide due to staffing shortages.
“Idaho’s religious communities and their beloved clergy are central to our right to worship. That’s why I proudly introduced the Religious Workforce Protection Act,” said Risch. “The Trump Administration’s action aligns with our efforts to ensure Idaho’s religious workers can stay in the U.S. and continue serving their congregations while their visas are processed. I will continue working with Senators Collins and Kaine to pass our legislation and ensure none of Idaho’s religious workers face the threat of leaving the communities they love and serve so faithfully.”
Senator Risch has sponsored the Religious Workforce Protection Act along with Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). The proposed legislation would give the Secretary of Homeland Security authority to extend R-1 status until an applicant receives a decision on permanent residency, eliminating mandatory departures during this period.
According to available data, almost 25% of clergy across the United States are foreign-born, meaning that changes in immigration policy can affect many faith-based organizations nationwide. In Idaho specifically, more than a quarter of Catholic priests may be at risk of losing their legal immigration status within four years if current rules remain unchanged.
