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WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) wrote Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, urging the agency to prioritize processing religious worker visa applications. 

Processing delays have impacted religious leaders in Texas and those who rely on these individuals for religious and community services. In the letter, De La Cruz urges DHS to use all available resources to minimize delays and ensure religious leaders are able to support their congregations.

In addition to the letter, De La Cruz co-sponsored the bipartisan Religious Worker Protection Act. The legislation would give DHS the authority to extend nonimmigrant religious worker (R-1) status until an individual’s application for permanent residence is finalized.

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Secretary Mullin,

I write to urge the prioritization of religious worker visa applications. Churches and faith-based institutions serve as the foundation for our communities, and our religious leaders as an extension of our families. Our immigration system recognizes this by allowing for those in religious vocations to serve in the United States, including through the R-1 religious worker visas.

In January 2026, the Trump Administration acted to reduce wait times for religious workers wanting to continue serving our faith-based communities in the United States. Specifically, your department removed the previous one year foreign residency requirement, allowing R-1 workers who have reached the five year maximum to seek readmission without a mandatory one year period abroad.  

While we commend the actions taken to speed up the immigration process for our religious workers, I urge you to prioritize reducing the processing times for religious worker visa applications, which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data states have processing times of 8.5 and 11.5 months, respectively, depending on the applicant type. 

These processing delays are felt throughout our communities, who rely on our religious leaders for vital religious and community services. I urge you to use your available resources to reduce the processing timelines and stand ready to assist you in any way necessary.

Thank you for your continued efforts to safeguard our country and support the diverse faith communities that enrich our society. I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that our immigration system functions in a way that strengthens religious freedom, supports the rule of law, and provides certainty for the communities we serve.

Sincerely,