Washington, D.C. – Protecting Religious Refugees from Former USSR Countries
In Washington, D.C., meetings and negotiations continue aimed at protecting the rights of religious refugees and immigrants from former Soviet countries who are in the U.S. without legal status. Representatives of Christian organizations, primarily Protestant and Orthodox communities, are working to halt deportations of those who arrived for religious reasons and now face the threat of removal due to changes in immigration policy.
Details in an exclusive interview with Slavic Sacramento:
According to Slavic Sacramento, activists from the public organization ARRC presented U.S. authorities with updated statistics and evidence of persecution against believers in Ukraine, Russia, and other countries in the region.
Following meetings with representatives of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the State Department, an agreement was reached that lists of detainees held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and those hiding in the U.S. for religious reasons will be reviewed for possible release.
Additionally, negotiations are underway to collaborate with the international Jewish organization HIAS, aiming to combine efforts to protect refugees. The Exodus 2 project, led by Boris Perchatkin, continues its mission to save people who have refused participation in armed conflicts and are seeking legal status in the U.S.
The organization is calling on churches and private individuals for support and funding, emphasizing that the main obstacle remains a lack of resources. The goal is to help thousands of people avoid deportation, obtain legal status, and safeguard their right to freedom of religion.
