Irish. Slavs. and many other national groups. Even with our immigration laws we have preserved this tradition. Special legislation permitted more than 30.000 Hungarian refugees to settle here after the suppression of their 1956 revolution. Similarly since 1968 over 10.000 Czechoslovakian refugees were assisted in coming to the United States. It should be remembered that more than 565.000 Cubans have made the United States their new home through exemptions from the immigration laws. I think it is important to enact a bill for the relief of Soviet Jews at this time. even though I recognize that they may be prevented from availing themselves of it. Soviet leaders. and the Jews behind their guarded borders. must be told that Americans of all faiths. acting through their elected Congress. deplore Soviet persecution of a proud minority and will make them welcome here. Enactment of H.R. 5606as amendedthen. is both an invitation and an expression of conscience. And in a real sense it is a challenge to the Soviet Union to open wide her doors and permit the Jews who are vilified there to leave. It will contrast sharply with the neglect of the Jews by mankind 30 years ago when so many countries. ours included. refused sanctuary to many of those Jews who escaped or would have been permitted to leave Nazi Germany through negotiations had visas been available. The adoption of this bill will be more than just an American gesture. I hope it will spark men in other nationsGreat Britain.
Keywords matched
immigration visas refugees