In the current climate of glasnost, it appears that unprecedented numbers of Christians may be emigrating from the Soviet Union. According to World Relief, in January alone nearly 1,000 Christians arrived in Vienna from Moscow, and as many as 10,000 Pentecostals and other evangelicals could be permitted to leave this year. However, Christian human-rights groups wonder if the U.S. government is changing its tune about Soviet emigrés.
In December and January, U.S. immigration officials denied refugee status to 99 Soviet Pentecostals. After an eight-member World Relief task force went to Rome in January to investigate the situation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) overturned 47 of the denials. However, at press time, the fate of the other 52 Pentecostals remained undetermined. And a spokesman for the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) says his organization has received word of several additional rejections.
According to Kent Hill, executive director of the IRD, the situation could eventually be used by the Soviets to refuse exit visas to refugees. “For the U.S. to go back on its commitment to receive as refugees those who it has insisted be allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union is inconsistent and unconscionable,” said Hill, who also chairs the Coalition for Solidarity with Christians in the USSR.
Hill is urging Christians to communicate concern to administration and congressional officials in Washington. In addition, World Relief is seeking a meeting with Attorney General Richard Thornburgh to discuss the situation.
However, even if the U.S. grants refugee status to Soviet believers, their resettlement poses another problem: finding homes for them. World Relief has begun a “Soviet Refugee Project” to help in immediate and long-term resettlement needs both here and in Rome, where the refugees await processing. The group will be providing financial assistance, aid in assembling paperwork, legal advocacy, food, and clothing. In addition, a major part of the project will be encouraging evangelical churches to become better prepared to sponsor and support Soviet Christians, who often have a difficult time adjusting to American life.
