Also. let us not forget the lessons history has taught us about reform in the Soviet Union. Time and again. periods of reform and liberalization have been followed by some of the most brutal and repressive crackdowns. I can understand the need to enhance the screening process in light of the recent influx of refugee applications. But we must remember a few basic considerations. First. many of these individuals take for granted the antiSemitic burdens they face. In many ways they have learned to live under these harsh conditions. and they assume the immigration officers understand this. Second. think of the courage it takes for these individuals to walk into the U.S. Embassy. They are anxious and afraid and may be reluctant to detail their claims of persecution while knowing that they must return to Soviet soil under the rule of these authorities. To subject these individuals to an arbitrary process and to place the burden of proof on these individuals under these conditions flies in the face of this countrys refugee policy. These people are deemed persecuted just by nature of the fact that they belong to a clearly persecuted group. Under the current State Department plan. not every Soviet Jew seeking entry into the United States is assured the opportunity to be admitted as a refugee. At least half of the applicants would fall under the category known as priority six. the lowest level in the U.S. ranking system. What do we do with these people? What if it disqualifies some of the leaders of the Soviet emigration movement? Was our traditional opendoor policy toward anyone fleeing communism mere rhetoric? Now that the numbers are increasing. are we going to give up our fight against persecution and our advocacy of a better way of life?
Identified stereotypes
Soviet refugees are assumed to have learned to live under harsh conditions and may not detail their claims of persecution.