Washington, USA - A Democratic Congressman has warned against a proposed rule change that would make it more difficult for Hindu, Buddhist and other non-Christian religious workers to get a US visa.
Better known for his opposition to the India-US nuclear deal, Edward J. Markey sent a letter to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials urging them to consult with, and incorporate the feedback of, religious groups while considering the change.
USCIS is considering changing the definitions of eligible religious workers and religious denominations related to the R-1 Religious Worker visa after widespread reports of fraud and abuse.
The proposed immigration rule change could have the unintended effect of discriminating against people of non-Judeo-Christian faiths, Markey said, noting: 'Some religions in the United States, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, rely more heavily on foreign religious workers for their religious practice.
'For example, several of my Hindu American constituents in Massachusetts rely heavily on religious workers from abroad. An overly restrictive final rule on R-1 visas could greatly impact their ability to fully practice their faith.'
A narrow eligibility definition for the R-1 visa requiring seminary-type training or the approval of a central religious body, which do not exist for all faiths, could jeopardise the ability of some to practice their religion. 'We are a tolerant and inclusive society and our laws should reflect these values,' Markey said.
'In seeking to improve the R-1 visa rules, we have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. While I applaud the efforts of Homeland Security officials to reduce fraud in the R-1 programme, the proposed changes must not exclude or impede legitimate visa applicants of non-Judeo-Christian faiths.
'I urge USCIS to encourage and thoroughly consider more feedback from religious organisations as it formulates changes to improve the R-1 visa rules,' said Markey, a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee.
The proposals came as tensions over immigration and security have prompted the government to tighten its grip on who enters the country.
Religious organisations that increasingly serve immigrant populations cite a need to bring in workers with the spiritual, cultural and linguistic expertise to serve them.
Religious worker visas are used to bring in Catholic nuns, Hebrew teachers, Muslim imams and Baptist church administrators, among other workers. In 2006, more than 11,000 of the visas were issued, most to natives of Korea, Israel and India.
Religious organisations say no other visa category fits their workers as well, and they praise the current system for being relatively hassle-free. But the process might have invited fraud, immigration officials say.