Petro Ruban spent 22 years in a Soviet prison and was finally pardoned by President Gorbachev due to the direct intervention of President Reagan in 1988. Ruban proceeded to Rome. Italy. where he planned to obtain refugee status for entrance into the United States. However. President Reagan wanted him in the United States by July 13. 1988. for a ceremony proclaiming that day as "Captive Nations Week." As a result. Ruban did not have sufficient time to process a refugee application. In order to cut through the red tape and get Ruban into the United States by the designated date. he was granted temporary humanitarian parole. As you know. parolees are not entitled to the extensive benefits to which refugees are entitled. Ruban has since adjusted to refugee status but cannot qualify for refugee benefits because the deadlines associated with receiving those benefits have expired. Ruban feels that he is entitled to those benefits because. if not for the Presidents request. he would have obtained refugee status in Rome and received all benefits entitled a refugee prior to the expiration of those deadlines. We have tried to solve this problem administratively to no avail. My bill states that Petro Ruban "shall be considered to be a refugee admitted to the United States as of the date of enactment of this Act."
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