Monica De La Cruz Urges DHS to Speed Up Religious Worker Visa Processing

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R) is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to reduce delays in processing religious worker visas, saying lengthy wait times are disrupting churches and faith-based organizations across Texas.

De La Cruz Calls for Faster Processing

Rep. De La Cruz is urging the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize religious worker visa applications, arguing that lengthy processing delays are preventing churches and faith-based organizations from receiving the leaders they rely on to serve their communities.

In a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, De La Cruz said religious leaders provide critical spiritual and community services, and delays in the immigration system are creating unnecessary hardships for congregations throughout Texas.

Rep. Monica De La Cruz: "Churches and faith-based institutions serve as the foundation for our communities, and our religious leaders as an extension of our families."

Rep. De La Cruz continued: "These processing delays are felt throughout our communities, which rely on our religious leaders for vital religious and community services."

De La Cruz acknowledged steps taken by the Trump administration earlier this year to ease restrictions on religious workers. In January 2026, DHS eliminated the previous requirement that certain R-1 visa holders spend one year outside the United States before seeking readmission after reaching the five-year maximum stay.

However, she noted that current U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processing times still range from 8.5 to 11.5 months, depending on the applicant, and urged DHS to dedicate available resources to reducing those delays.

Supporting Religious Worker Legislation

Aside from sending the letter, De La Cruz is also backing the bipartisan Religious Worker Protection Act, legislation that would allow DHS to extend R-1 nonimmigrant religious worker status until an applicant's permanent residency case is finalized.

She said the proposal would provide greater certainty for religious organizations while ensuring communities continue receiving essential religious and charitable services.