Local priest to return to Nigeria after green card backlog

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - William Gresser, St. John Neumann Parish Parishioner says, “reach out to anyone and anything that they know, if they have connection in washington, if they connections in phoenix, if they have connections with our senators or congressman, I’d like they to reach out and ask them for an expedition for these two men so they do not have to return to nigeria.”

Father Iorlumun Emmanuel Tamen of St. John Neumann Parish has to leave at the end of the month.

Father Tamen’s work visa has expired, but because of a huge application backlog, he’s not able to renew it.

A second priest from Nigeria, Reverand Ukeyima who serves in Kearney, Arizona, will also have to go back.

William Gresser hopes that by getting this information out there, it will reach someone in washington and the priests will be given refugee status.

“Asking for something outside of the normal visa process and that is that they would be able to stay on an extended visa, its just my hope, its my prayer," says Gresser.

We spoke with one of the parishioners of the church who says he worries about the safety of the two priests due to deadly violence in Nigeria targeting Christians.

Gresser says, “their lives are in great danger if they go back, they have a target on their back, if they go back to nigeria, and I don’t think that we want to be responsible for putting that target on their back.”

Both priests are part of the Diocese of Tucson.

Gresser adds, “and here we are sending back two very well received, gainfully employed, filling a need in the united states, who are no burden to the united states.”

Father Tamen is set to return to Nigeria on December 26th.