As the freshman cochair of the Congressional Caucus on Soviet Jewry last year. I am pleased to see that the freshman Members of the 100th Congress are taking a very active role in behalf of Soviet Jews. Despite the new glasnost policy of the Soviet Government. the fact remains that at the very least there are some 40.000 Jewish refuseniks who have been waiting years and years for their exit visas. Will this be the year that the Soviet Government accepts its responsibility to uphold human rights under the Helsinki accords? This remains to be seen. We are told that some 10.000 cases are under review and that by years end. some 10.000 refuseniks will be given their exit visas. This. too. remains to be seen. What we do know is that in January of this year. only 98 refuseniks were granted permission to emigrate to their homeland. In February there was only a slight increase to 146. In light of Soviet promises and the contrasting reality of the situation. it is clear that there is an important role for Members of Congress to play.
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emigrate visas