Iraq. and the Soviet Republic of Armenia. In some areas. their unique culture identity is being systematically repressed by institutionalized discrimination against Armenian schools and churches. At present. the only way for most Armenians to come to the United States is through the preference system. based on family reunification. Since many do not have families here. they are unable to emigrate. Although there is an Armenia in the Soviet Union. It is not a free and independent nation. And some Armenians are trying to get out. In fiscal year 1981. 4.077 Armenians from the Soviet Union came to the United States. The numbers are down now. because of our strained relations with the Soviets. so it is unclear how many Armenians would emigrate if they could. I am concerned that repression against Armenians could worsen in many of these countries. I would ask my friend Senator SIMPSON. as chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy. if it is his intention that the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service be specially sensitive to our unfulfilled commitments to the Armenian people when criteria are determined and applied for allowing refugees into the United States under the pending act and existing laws.
Keywords matched
Immigration family reunification Refugee Naturalization emigrate refugees