American Jewish agencies are mobilizing all their forces. They are expanding the sizes of their staffs and raising funds to help settle the growing numbers. But another significant change contemplated by the State Department would gradually end the use of Rome and Vienna as waystations for Jews leaving the Soviet Union and would cause all determinations of refugee status to be conducted in the Soviet Union. This action would cut the nonprofit organizations from direct access to the emigration process and obstruct their abilities in the area of resettlement. They would be seriously hindered in determining the needs of wouldbe refugees. how best to help them. and where to resettle them. What are the implications? I believe the United States has an obligation to admit refugees into our country to escape persecution and to begin a life of religious freedom. I personally have been involved in adopting and assisting several Soviet Jewish families in their emigration efforts. and I plan to continue to fight for these people who have endured and continue to endure persecution in many ways that many of us do not always consider. Persecution includes blatant brutality. torture. and other forms of physical violence. but many of us overlook that fact that persecution includes the inability to practice and become educated in ones cultural and religious beliefs as well. As a nation committed to and founded upon the ideals of freedom. the United States should not justifiably turn its back to those who are eagerly seeking rights that we advocate and uphold.
Keywords matched
emigration refugee refugees