To fulfill its mission, HIAS:



* Provides information and a broad program of services at all stages of the migration process for refugees and migrants;



* Serves as a communications link between clients, communities of resettlement and government authorities;



* Advocates for fair and just policies affecting refugees and immigrants;



* Provides a cultural orientation for those legally eligible to enter the U.S. as refugees;



The Former Soviet Union Today



The region’s tumultuous history continues: after the fall of the USSR, unstable political, social and economic conditions in many countries of the former Soviet Union have fed armed conflicts, civil strife and extreme forms of nationalism and xenophobia. Thus, the fear that many Jews and other minorities keep feeling for the future continues to precipitate immigration. The region is also subject to a variety of sizable internal migratory movements, as well as migrations from problem areas in Asia and Africa.



Services



HIAS monitors conditions in the region that affect emigration of Jews and other vulnerable groups, and brings specific problems to the attention of appropriate international and governmental organizations. Using HIAS’ expertise on a wide range of migration issues, our offices in Moscow and Kiev implement several specific programs providing refugees with much-needed information and legal assistance.