B’nai B’rith has announced that it asked the Justice Department to demonstrate American concern for the plight of Syrian Jews by granting them parole authority to enter the U.S. as refugees. David M. Blumberg, B’nai B’rith president, stated in a letter to Attorney General Richard Kleindienst that a ruling be applied to Syria’s 4000 Jews similar to that by former Attorney General John Mitchell waiving immigration quotas to authorize entry of Soviet Jews.
Blumberg said in his letter that the situation of Syrian Jews was “more grievous” than that of Soviet Jews and that an American commitment to provide them a haven would do much to maintain their morale. He said their physical security is precarious and their civil rights, including the right to pursue their profession or occupation, were drastically limited.
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