Posted on 04/20/2007 5:18:11 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Responding to concerns that rampant fraud in a visa program allowing religious workers in the country could eventually pose a national security threat, the federal government is looking to overhaul it.
After nearly a decade of internal government reports alerting and finally confirming that impostors have legally entered the country by exploiting the program, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for all visa applications, is proposing several changes to tighten oversight.
Since the 9-11 attacks, criticism has focused on the possibility of terrorists taking advantage of the program.
"USCIS remains committed to seeking out and eliminating fraud and misrepresentation in the immigration system," Emilio González, director of the agency, said in a statement.
Among the changes the government proposed:
Applicants would no longer be able to apply from U.S. consular posts abroad. Sponsoring organizations would have to submit materials directly to CIS.
Approved workers would be allowed for only one year instead of three.
Definitions of eligible applicants would be tightened to make sure they're bona fide religious workers and not fakers.
Sponsoring groups would be subject to field inspections.
The crackdown should not worry legitimate, established religious organizations such as his, said Brad Russell, spokesman for the Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.
His main concern was the suggested change in the definition of "religious occupation." The stricter interpretation could possibly sideline social and relief workers typically employed by religious groups, Russell said.
"We consider this to be vital religious work, although it may not involve religious instruction or worship activities," he said.
The religious worker visa program was created in 1990. Anecdotes of rampant fraud lingered for years before being confirmed by the government. In an internal CIS study in July, one-third of religious worker applications reviewed in a six-month period proved fraudulent.
No final decision on the proposed regulation change will be made until June 25, giving the public two months to provide comments, which can be made online at www.regulations.gov.
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hrozemberg@express-news.net
5 years after 9/11!
Can we stop the Mexicans, please!
Keep the radical,ignorant, imported Imams out.
We are idiots, if we didn’t pretty much stop Islamic “religious workers” from coming in, post-9/11.
I’m pretty sure we are idiots.
The crackdown should not worry legitimate, established religious organizations such as his, said Brad Russell, spokesman for the Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.
I may be getting too touchy in my dotage, but why is there an accent mark over the ‘e’ in Americas.
Isn’t this English?
Isn’t this America?
More "feel good" statements designed to placate the slow and stupid, and those who actually believe they can still trust the federal government.
Well, that's it, isn't it? Sooner or later the question has to be faced, workers from which religions? And under what circumstances?
"Interesting times" ahead.
Yeah its amazing how adept they are at grabbing the cash. One day, perhaps sooner than I would prefer people will be trying to get out of this country and then we will know what the true intent is behind the big fence on the border.
Sooner or later the question has to be settled, workers from which religions?
Which means importing radical religious fanatics it will increase.
There’s only one, that’s really a totalitarian political-religious system.
The rest of the common ones, are generally reasonably benign, when it comes to use of force to ensure compliance.
True. The problem is that many boneheads, choosing to ignore the "totalitarian" part of the equation, will argue vehemently that Christianity is also a political-religious system, and that if you shun one, you should shun the other.
Call me stupid - but why do we have to import religious workers anyway?? What do they “work” at?? Is this one of those jobs that American citizens will not do?? Help me understand this - please.
Well, the Mormons in foreign countries have to send their missionaries somewhaere, and since we send them ours...?
The Reverend Mister Moon needs additional accounting help?
We have too many airports, and not enough Hari Krishnas?
Sri Yogi Guru Bagwans can collect more Rolls Royces, and hence turn more prayer wheels for world peace, from Americans than they can from poor Indians?
Tom Cruise needs additional E-Meter jockies?
Christian workers have a difficult time getting visas to come here.
It appears Moslem workers just sail through the visa application prosess....
Then a couple months ago they increase the # of Saudi Students by thousands. How does this government expect the populace to care about the war on terror with their carelessness?
That's the first question that occurred to me.
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