The ERLC joined a letter alongside other faith-based advocates urging members of Congress to support a bill called the Religious Workforce Protection Act (RWPA). Due to a backlog at the State Department, foreign-born pastors and ministry workers serving in Southern Baptist churches in the United States may be unable to obtain green cards upon expiration of their visas. The ministry of these individuals would be interrupted because of delays in the green card application process. The letter states:
“Unless Congress acts, communities will increasingly be forced to part with the men and women who have faithfully served them for years, and religious exercise will be hindered in their absence.”
What is the Religious Workforce Protection Act?
The Religious Workforce Protection Act is a proposed bill that would remedy the backlog of foreign-born ministry workers with green cards caused by a re-interpretation under the Biden administration’s State Department.
R-1 visa holders are sponsored by religious institutions to come perform specific ministry roles as missionaries, pastors, or other positions for up to five years. Upon the expiration of the visa, R-1 holders must leave the United States for at least a year before re-applying. In past instances when individuals and ministries decide to pursue permanent employment, R-1 visa holders have been able to transition to a permanent green card. However, the green card category for religious workers has a 21-year backlog.
The ERLC has heard from several churches in our denomination that are at risk of losing pastors and ministry staff due to the backlog in the green card process. This ranges from teaching pastors to children’s ministry workers that have specific language skills beneficial to the ministry of the church.
The Religious Workforce Protection Act provides a narrowly-tailored fix to the issue by allowing R-1 visa holders to remain in the country until their placement in the green card queue comes around. This solution ensures churches have essential spiritual care and pastors can remain with their congregations without being separated.
