Immigration is not exclusively a concern of the Latino community. A visit with new voters from Northern California's growing Russian immigrant community shows this issue is extremely powerful as a unifying force in more ways than one. PNS corespondent Josh Phillips lives in San Francisco. THIS IS ONE OF A PNS SERIES ON THE YEAR OF THE ETHNIC VOTER.

Sarah Azarnova is not much interested in Monica Lewinsky. But she can't forget the bitter battles she had to fight to come into the country from Russia.

"All the recent changes in immigration were led by Republicans and fought by Democrats," she says, "and I will never, ever forget that."

While she does not identify herself as a Democrat, Azarnova admits she has been swayed by what she perceives as Republican attacks on immigrant rights -- most recently, California governor Pete Wilson's anti-immigration proposition.

In the cramped office of San Francisco's Russian-language newspaper, staff members talk about the issues that affect them.

Yuri, recently arrived from the Ukraine, says "A good public transportation system and social services are critical." Boris talks of affordable housing, Morris about education.

Many agree with Tatyana Litvinova, 30, a nurse, who finds the younger generation of recent arrivals "more conservative, more inclined toward the economic and moral issues advanced by Republicans."

But the challenge to immigrant rights transcends all differences. "That is something that worries all of us," she says.

With 35,000 new Russian immigrants, northern California has become the country's third largest center for Russian emigres, after New York and Los Angeles.

Most are Jews, and anti-immigrant themes, widely seen as a Hispanic issue, have caused considerable anxiety.

"I live in an apartment complex with Filipino and Hispanic neighbors," says Sarah Azarnova, "and we share some common interests." These included, at first, such matters as bilingual education and affirmative action. But the immigration debate strengthened the bonds between them -- especially those who want to re-unify overseas families.

These immigrants will "gradually form a critical mass and slowly find their political voice," says Pnina Levemore, executive director for the Bay Area Council for Jewish Rescue and Renewal.

"And once they do, the major political parties will have to pay attention and listen to them very carefully."