Two Priests Granted Temporary Stay, Diocese Seeks Green Cards

Two priests serving at St. John Neumann Parish in Yuma were given permission to remain in the United States for several more months after a petition for extension was filed, according to the Diocese of Tucson. The extension was announced December 30, 2025, just two days before one priest was due to board a flight home, and the priests may stay for six more months while paperwork is processed.

The extension came as immediate relief for parishioners who feared losing regular pastoral care and community services. Bill Gresser, a parishioner, said he would continue to mobilize local support while the Diocese moves toward permanent residency steps. “My next step is to continue if you will get the word out, but I believe the next step here, but I believe the next steps are being taken by the diocese of Tucson and others and to see that they begin their green card process," Gresser said. He described the news as a holiday miracle for the congregation and framed it as a protection from returning to dangerous conditions abroad. “We really thrilled that these priests don’t have to go back to a very very difficult situation, where they would be targeted by rebel gangs, and their able to stay here ministering to the people as they have for the last four years," explains Gresser.

One of the priests, Father Iorlumun Emmanuel Tamen, described receiving the call about the extension while hiking at Telegraph Pass. "I was hiking, I went hiking at Telegraph Pass, a call came in and it wasn’t normal that I’d never had, and it was the Chancellor of the Dioceses and she said great news our stay had been extended," says Father Iorlumun Emmanuel Tamen. He later characterized the decision as a communal gift that extends beyond himself. “this is a kind of gift, not just to me alone, but to my other brother adams, it’s a gift lightly, we are so excited to stay back here and continue our ministry here, working with the people who celebrated the sacrament we’ve done for them.”

According to the Diocese of Tucson, a petition for his visa extension along with that of Reverend has been submitted. The extension buys time for immigration filings and for the diocese to begin longer term residency steps. Both priests and diocesan officials thanked parishioners and the broader community for their concern and support.

Beyond the immediate relief for congregants, the case underscores broader public health and social equity implications. Local clergy often provide not only spiritual care but also social support, referrals to health and mental health services, and assistance for immigrant families. Sudden loss of pastoral staff can disrupt those informal safety nets, particularly for residents facing economic precarity or limited access to formal health care. The situation also highlights how complex immigration pathways can leave religious workers and vulnerable communities in limbo, increasing anxiety and straining local volunteer and nonprofit networks that fill gaps in services.

As the Diocese proceeds with visa and green card steps, parish leaders say they will continue to advocate for expedited processing and maintain services for Yuma residents who rely on the priests for ceremonies, counseling, and community outreach.