Religious organizations have been advocating for more than a year to address sudden procedural changes in how the government processes green cards for religious workers. This change poses a threat to thousands of religious workers in the United States.

The Catholic Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, along with five priests, is among those affected by the new processing delays. Their legal status in the U.S. is set to expire, leading to potential disruptions in their ability to carry out their religious duties.

Bishop Kevin Sweeney expressed concern about the impact of these delays, stating that their priests are already doing the best they can to serve 400,000 Catholics and 107 parishes in three New Jersey counties.

The diocese of Paterson filed a lawsuit against the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to address the issue. This lawsuit is the first of its kind but has raised awareness among other religious groups facing similar challenges.

The delays in green card processing could lead to significant disruptions in religious communities that rely heavily on foreign-born clergy. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been advocating for solutions to this issue, as the current delays are deemed unsustainable.

There is a growing concern among religious organizations, including Bishop Mark Seitz from El Paso, Texas, who faces the prospect of losing priests due to processing delays. The reliance on foreign-born clergy is a common practice among various denominations in the U.S.

To address the shortage of religious workers, American dioceses have established agreements with foreign counterparts to bring clergy from different countries. However, the current delays in green card processing have created challenges for these organizations.

Efforts are underway to lobby for long-term fixes through legislative and administrative channels, but the political sensitivity surrounding immigration reform makes it a challenging task. The involvement of various stakeholders, including legal associations and religious groups, is crucial in finding solutions to these processing delays.

As the situation continues to unfold, many organizations are hoping for prompt actions to alleviate the burden on religious workers. The current delays not only affect their ability to serve their communities but also have personal and professional implications for these individuals.