The Lautenberg Amendment (1989)

A law that eased refugee admission for religious minorities from the Soviet Union, later extended to Iran.

The law

Sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg, the amendment was enacted in 1989. It allowed Jews, Evangelical Christians, and members of the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox churches from the Soviet Union to qualify as refugees by showing a credible basis for concern about persecution, a lower standard than usual.

Extended

Congress has renewed the provision repeatedly. A 2004 addition, known as the Specter Amendment, extended similar treatment to religious minorities from Iran. See also Iran.