Speech #1010044723

AntiSemitic groups such as Pamyat have grown and prospered under glasnost. perhaps even with the blessing of the Government. While refusenik demonstrations are still regularly disrupted. the KGB chooses to Ignore the plethora of leaflets advocating "Death to Jews." the overturning of Jewish tombstones. and the threats of violence which pervade Jewish communities in the Soviet Union. Perhaps the only area where glasnost has led to true progress recently is emigration. Though the Soviet Unions emigration policy is still far from free. many longterm refuseniks who have struggled against their Government for years have recently been granted permission to fulfill their dream of living in a nation like the United States where religious freedom is respected. And one might imagine that the United States. which for so long has championed their cause. would receive them with open arms. Unfortunately. that is not the case. After years of protesting the persecution of religious minorities In the Soviet Union. the U.S. Government has suddenly said that the persecution does not exist. Now. each of these refuseniks has to prove that he or she has been persecuted. and in fact. in March. the Immigration and Naturalization Service determined that 37 percent of those who applied had not been persecuted. and could not be admitted to the United States as refugees. This is a tragic situation. made even worse by the belief that the sudden change in policy is a result of no more than a budget shortfall in the United States. How ironic it must be to these people who have suffered all their life to be told that because the United States has budget problems. their suffering no longer qualifies as persecution.