NEW YORK, NY July 06, 2007 —The Department of Homeland Security says a religious workers visa program is riddled with fraud and officials want to impose stricter rules. Hindus and other religious groups are worried this means the US won’t let in enough people to work in their temples and other institutions. WNYC’s Fred Mogul reports.

REPORTER: A report last year by immigration authorities said about 30% of R1 visa applications were made fraudulently. Ishani Chowdry, director of the Hindu American Foundation, says proposed revisions would not take into account the different types of religious jobs required by Hinduism and other non-western faiths.

CHOWDRY: It is important to curb fraud in immigration, but it’s equally important to allow faith traditions that have been sustaining here for generations at a time to continue their practices.

REPORTER: Chowdry estimates that about 500 workers were admitted last year to work at Hindu temples and other organizations. US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Shawn Saucier says any rule-change will be flexible enough to accommodate different religions - but will also rely on strict verification to prevent fraud. For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.