In Los Angeles. Mr. Speaker. lives a young refugee from the Soviet Union named Izhak Kofman. Izhak has appealed to me and to all of my colleagues to help his father and brother. Haim and Samoil Kofman of Kishinev. For the past 9 years. the Kofmans have tried to emigrate to the United States so that they might be reunited with their family members here. Haim is 82 years old and suffers the deteriorating health that sometimes accompanies such advanced age. His wife. to our great sorrow. died last year never having realized her final wish to be reunited with her son and daughter in this country. Haims son Samoil is now 36 years old. He was stripped of his job after he requested permission to emigrate. The official reason given for denial of his request is "exposure to state secrets" while serving in the army. However. Samoils army service was more than 15 years agol Since the new Soviet emigration policy states that security classification is generally limited to 5 years and no longer than 10. to use this as a cause for refusal is unreasonable and incomprehensible. There are many families like the Kofmans in the Soviet Union who heroically and relentlessly plead for freedom. In America. where we take so much for granted. it is indeed hard for us to comprehend the pain of forceful separation from those we love. As a father and as a Member of the United States Congress. I am moved by the plight of all people denied the comfort of their family members. Until every such person is permitted the freedom to emigrate lawfully. we must continue our efforts to increase world pressure on the Soviets to adopt a moral and reasonable policy that recognizes human rights.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration refugee