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The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against 16 immigrants who claimed that religious-worker visa rules violated their religious freedoms.
The court rejected a challenge to immigration policies that require religious workers to follow a different process from those with employment-based visas when applying to become legal permanent residents (LPR). The ruling upheld a 2011 decision in the case.
The policies prevent religious workers from applying for LPR status until U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) approves an employer's petition on a worker's behalf. In contrast, workers with employment-based visas may apply concurrently with an employer's petition.
The immigrant plaintiffs in the case, who had all been approved for temporary residency on five-year religious worker visas, argued that the policies increase the waiting period for religious workers and can result in unjust deportation. They also alleged that the policies violate workers' rights under the Religious ...
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