Discrimination. persecution and even incarceration continue today with all the frequency of the worst days of the Stalin regime. Testimony in hearings before the Committee on Judiciarys Internal Security Subcommittee. which I had the privilege of chairing. quite graphically pointed out the inability of citizens of the Jewish faith in the Soviet Union to obtain good jobs. and the outright imprisonment of those who wish to improve themselves. More recently. in what would have to be one of the paramount historical displays of societal sadism. the government of the Soviet Union has imposed an oppressive head tax. or ransom if you will. of up to $30.000 on each of its Jewish citizens who wish to emigrate. All that these people are asking for is permission to leave a society which discriminates against them. All they are asking for is to leave and make a new life for themselves elsewhere. They are prohibited from doing this by a huge exit visa tax. These people. therefore. find themselves in a totally untenable position. They are made painfully aware that they are not welcome to remain in the Soviet Union. and yet are prevented from leaving the place of their persecution.
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emigrate visa head tax