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Changes In Guidelines By INS
Angering Soviet Jewry Activists
JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent
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I
n a dramatic backstage
turnabout, the Immigra-
tion and Naturalization
Service has issued
guidelines for the enforce-
ment of key Soviet Jewry
legislation that have left
Jewish activists in a rage,
and sparked accusations of a
betrayal by the new INS
commissioner, Gene
McNary.
The issue involved the
Morrison-Lautenberg bill,
legislation intended to re-
verse earlier INS actions
that made it more difficult
for Soviet Jews and others to
prove refugee status.
Last week the INS releas-
ed its internal guidelines for
implementing the Morrison-
Lautenberg measure, shock-
ing Soviet Jewry activists.
"What they're saying,
basically, is that all the
Morrison-Lautenberg
guidelines did was codify ex-
isting INS practice," said an
angry Arnold Leibowitz,
Washington representative
for the Hebrew Immigration
Aid Society.
Worse, the new guidelines
effectively ignore the con-
ference manager's report —
the key attachment to the
bill, worked out in the deli-
cate compromise process —
which dealt with the crucial
issue of "credible evidence."
If the new INS guidelines
are followed, Leibowitz said,
they will effectively negate
the basic intent of the
legislation.
Jewish groups were also
incensed that INS Commis-
sioner McNary might have
violated promises to consult
with Jewish groups on the
implementation of the
legislation.
"McNary gave his per-
sonal pledge to
(Massachusetts Sen. Ed-
ward) Kennedy and (Iowa
Sen. Paul) Simon at the con-
ference hearings that, to
assure sensitivity he would
meet with groups before
taking action," Leibowitz
said. "We have asked for
meetings on Morrison-
Lautenberg guidelines con-
tinuously since November.
We have yet to have such a
meeting."
Last week's revelations re-
ignited concerns about
McNary's sensitivity to the
Soviet Jewry issue. During
his confirmation hearings
several months ago, some
Jewish activists expressed
reservations about his lack
of experience in immigration
and refugee matters.
Until the guidelines were
unveiled, Soviet Jewry ac-
tivists had believed that
they would be favorable. Ac-
cording to sources here, the
guidelines were the focus of
a ferocious tug-of-war bet-
ween top INS officials.
Sometime last week, those
favoring the narrowest in-
terpretation of the Morrison-
Lautenberg measure were
triumphant.
Jewish groups jumped into
action when the guidelines
were released. But their
progress has been hampered
by the fact that the key con-
gressional players are all out
of town — and many key
staffers are on vacation as
the legislative lull winds to a
close.
"The Jewish community is
outraged by this," said Judy
Golub, assistant
Washington representative
for the American Jewish
Committee. "Not only is it
misleading, it is a willful
misreading of the statute. It
makes it harder, not easier,
for people to become refu-
gees. We're going to pull out
all the stops in fighting
this."
Pro-Israel Cranston
Might Be Forced Out
Jewish politicos continue
to watch the trials and
tribulations of Sen. Alan
Cranston, (D-Calif.), one of
the "Keating Five," a group
of senators who allegedly
used their clout to help a
failing savings and loan
operator.
Polls show Cranston, who
has a strong pro-Israel
record and an even better
record on the "social agen-
da" issues important to
Jewish groups, is in serious
trouble. Increasingly, there
is speculation that he may
resign before his 1992 re-
election battle.
Already, at least seven
potential candidates are
waiting in the wings — in-
cluding pro-Israel stalwart
Rep. Mel Levine, D-Calif.,