Mr. President. this amendment deals with an immediate humanitarian crisis resulting from a substantial increase in the number of Soviet Jewish and other persecuted minority refugees awaiting United States admissions in Rome. or just outside of Rome. Additional numbers of refugees are expected to leave the Soviet Union this year and in the coming year. We should regard this as a substantial victory for American policy and a victory for the cause of human rights and free emigration. This is no time to let bureaucratic processing restrictions interfere with the achievement of this major human rights objective. American policy for years has urged a free emigration policy from the Soviet Union. Then for us to turn around and say. "Sure. emigrate from the Soviet Union. but dont come into the United States" puts us in a rather hypocritical position. This amendment offers an immediate remedy. While we have the highest regard for the responsibilities and jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee and of the Senators responsible on that committee for U.S. refugee admission policy. we see no alternative to accepting this amendment to solve this urgent problem. I yield the floor.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration refugee refugees