Paterson Diocese drops visa lawsuit, but clergy immigration crisis lingers
The Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, has decided to dismiss its lawsuit against the U.S. government over religious worker visa issues. The case, filed in August 2024, accused federal agencies of unlawfully altering visa availability calculations for noncitizen religious workers. The diocese had hoped that pending legislation, the 'Religious Workforce Protection Act', would resolve the dispute, but neither the Senate nor House bills have progressed.
Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, has expressed concern about the reliance on foreign-born clergy in the United States and warned that the religious worker visa issue may worsen without proper address. The Paterson diocese's lawsuit named the U.S. State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as defendants. It alleged that agency actions could force priests to leave their U.S. congregations due to immigration delays. The diocese has now chosen to dismiss the case to allow for potential agency action or rulemaking that could make the requested relief unnecessary.
The Paterson diocese's lawsuit dismissal does not signal a resolution to the religious worker visa issue. Bishop Seitz's warning highlights the ongoing concern for many U.S. dioceses heavily reliant on foreign-born clergy. The fate of the 'Religious Workforce Protection Act' remains uncertain, leaving the visa situation in limbo.
