Soviet Jewry
Fight Continues
In Washington, some
issues just refuse to go away.
When there was a Soviet
Union, the Morrison-
Lautenberg amendment was
on the lips of every Soviet
Jewry activist here.
The amendment, passed in
1989, restored the automatic
presumption that Soviet
Jews — and other groups,
including some Vietnamese
— were refugees. That was
important because Immigra-
tion and Naturalization Ser-
vice (INS) officers were rejec-
ting many Soviet Jews'
claims of refugee status. The
INS insisted that they could
not prove a "well-founded
fear of persecution."
The amendment is now up
for reauthorization. And
even though the USSR has
disappeared, Jewish ac-
tivists here want the
amendment reauthorized
another couple of years.
This, they say, would signal
that Jews in that part of the
world are still at risk.
There are concerns that if
the amendment is ter-
minated, the rejection rate
for refugees seeking asylum
will soar. This would make it
harder to clear the pipeline
of Jews from the former
Soviet Union who are
waiting to get into this coun-
try and possibly put them at
risk if economic and political
conditions there worsen.
Jews Pivotal
In '92 Election
The Jewish community
played an enormous role in
Bill Clinton's victory in the
New York primary. Jews
comprise some 10.3 percent
of the total New York state
population, but account for
almost 24 percent of the
Democratic vote. Their
strong preference for Gov.
Clinton was a major factor in
his victory.
Jews' impact was strong
despite the fact that Jews
had a significantly lower
turnout than in 1988.
That leads to an obvious
conclusion: if Jews turn out
in big numbers in
November, their influence
will be maximized in a year
when many Americans are
just too turned off.
"We have an unusual op-
portunity," said a top official
with a Jewish group.
"Voters are staying home
from the polls in droves.
Even a normal turnout from
Jews, who tend to vote more
than other communities,
anyway, would maximize
our influence."
Wishing all our
friends & clients a very healthy
—
HAPPY PASSOVER
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The Staff Of
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Nominations for officer and board of direc-
tors positions for the Jewish Community
Council of Metropolitan Detroit, in prepara-
tion for the May 26, 1992 annual election,
may be made by petition signed by at least
5 qualified delegates, and delivered to the
Council office, 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloom-
field Hills, Michigah 48301, on or before Tues-
day, April 21, 1992. Only one nominee may
be named in each petition. Each petition
must be accompanied by a signed state-
ment from the nominee setting forth his/her
willingness to serve if elected, and identify-
ing his/her delegate status.
For The Finest Quality
Diamond Settings and Gold Jewelry
With Distinctive Styling...
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Franklin Center Bldg • Suite 100 • 29100 Northwestern Hwy • Southfield • 356-7140
Advance Bldg • Suite 300 • 23077 Greenfield at Nine Mile • Southfield • 557-0616
Best wishes for a Happy Passover
from Steve Coden & Staff
STEVE CODE
FLOWER S50P
358-1520
Travelers Tower • 26555 Evergreen, Southfield
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
37