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Fraud common in religious visa program

WASHINGTON, July 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has found a special visa program for religious workers is riddled with fraud, the Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

The newspaper obtained a redacted version of the department's report on an internal investigation. Investigators who audited 220 applications for religious visas found that more than a third included fraudulent information.

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The program allows religious organizations, including churches, mosques and synagogues, to bring in foreigners to fill specific positions. Religious worker visas can be temporary ones for three years or green cards allowing immigrants to remain in the United States permanently.

The audit found an especially high rate of fraud in applications from heavily Muslim countries. In one case, an Egyptian national living in the United States filed applications for 82 visas for religious workers.

While critics say the program could allow terrorists easy entry, many religious groups find it vital. Margaret Perron, director of religious immigration services for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, told the Globe the U.S. church has an acute shortage of priests and nuns.

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