If he does not find work. he may be jailed on charges of parasitism. The official antiSemitism and the cultural and religious repression which the Albers and thousands of others like them face in the Soviet Union is a cruel and grinding challenge to the spirit. Thousands of those who try to secure their freedom by emigrating are staunchly denied that universal human right. They are routinely penalized for continuing to seek to exercise this right. Recent changes in the Soviet emigration policies which. ostensibly reflect a new openness. or glasnot. have not yet resulted in fewer restrictions on emigration for religious or humanitarian reasons. Mr. President. we all rejoiced in the recent release of prisoners of conscience like Anatoly Shcharansky and Yuri Crlov. However. we must never forget that for every individual who is finally allowed to emigrate. there are hundredsthousands of others who are denied permission to leave the Soviet Union. Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union fell to its lowest level during 1986 since the 1960s. The Albers. for 13 years. have been subjected to the intimidation and persecution which. tragically. are a normal byproduct of attempting to emigrate from the Soviet Union. It is my hope that Mr. Alber and his family will soon be able to achieve the goal they have sought for 13 years: To establish a home where they can pursue their chosen careers and where they are free to practice their religion.
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emigrate emigration emigrating