Speech #1010044760

Madam Chairman. I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 2022. granting refugee status to certain members of groups known to be subject to persecution in the Soviet Union and Indochina. I wish to commend Mr. MORRISON. my colleague from Connecticut. for his efforts in drafting this legislation as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees and International Law. This timely piece of legislation will provide a much needed remedy to a significant problem that has persisted with the processing of applicants who are piling up in refugee camps within Europe. This logjam of potential emigres began in August 1988 when Attorney General Ed Meese reversed a longstanding policy of the Immigration and Naturalization Service that allowed refugee status to be determined without the need to demonstrate a "well founded fear of persecution" on an individual casebycase basis. It has been entirely evident in the past and continues to be that these people have been consistently subjected to persecution within their native homeland by denial of a basic human right. their right to practice their own faith. This reversal Is unfounded and Ironic. The exit of Soviet Jews represents a triumph of American foreign policy and yet the United States is rejecting many Jews and Christians who were able to exit the Soviet Union only because our Government pressed for their release. Since December 1988. 3.000 to 4.000 Soviet emigres a month have been arriving in Western Europe for processing. Maintaining these refugees has become extremely costly both in terms of dollars and human endurance. The refugee camp In Ladispoli. Italy. now houses over 12.000 Soviet refugee applicants. many of whom have been there several months. This bill will restore a presumption of refugee status for these persecuted individuals in the Soviet Union and Indochina and direct the Government to establish categories of individuals who merit this presumption. Passage of this bill Is a fair and just response in solving the current crisis in both areas. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation with me and resume the timely and much needed return of allowing these individuals the right to emigrate.