[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45084-45085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20760]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

6 CFR Part 5

[Docket No. DHS-2009-0037]


Privacy Act of 1974: Implementation of Exemptions; Department of 
Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services--006 Fraud 
Detection and National Security Data System

AGENCY: Privacy Office, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule to 
amend its regulations to exempt portions of a Department of Homeland 
Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services system of records 
entitled the ``Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services--006 Fraud Detection and National Security Data 
System of Records'' from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. 
Specifically, the Department exempts portions of the Department of 
Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services--006 Fraud 
Detection and National Security Data system from one or more provisions 
of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative 
enforcement requirements.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective August 31, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions please contact: 
Donald Hawkins (202-272-8000), Privacy Officer, U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20529. For privacy issues contact: Mary Ellen Callahan (703-235-0780), 
Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security, Washington, DC 20528.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, 73 FR 48155, August 18, 
2008, proposing to exempt portions of the system of records from one or 
more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and 
administrative enforcement requirements. The system of records is the 
DHS/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)--006 Fraud 
Detection and National Security Data System. The DHS/USCIS--006 Fraud 
Detection and National Security Data system of records notice was 
published concurrently in the Federal Register, 73 FR 48231, August 18, 
2008, and comments were invited on both the notice of proposed 
rulemaking and the system of records notice. No comments were received.

Public Comments

    DHS received no comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking or 
system of records notice. DHS will implement the rulemaking as 
proposed.

List of Subjects in 6 CFR Part 5

    Freedom of information; Privacy.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, DHS amends Chapter I of Title 
6, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 5--DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS AND INFORMATION

0
1. The authority citation for Part 5 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, 6 U.S.C. 101 et 
seq.; 5 U.S.C. 301. Subpart A also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552. 
Subpart B also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552a.


0
2. At the end of Appendix C to Part 5, Exemption of Record Systems 
Under the Privacy Act, add the following new paragraph ``32'':
* * * * *
    32. The DHS/USCIS--006 Fraud Detection and National Security 
Data System (FDNS-DS) system of records consists of a stand alone 
database and paper files that will be used by DHS and its 
components. The DHS/USCIS--006 Fraud Detection and National Security 
Data System is a case management system used to record, track, and 
manage immigration inquiries, investigative referrals, law 
enforcement requests, and case determinations involving benefit 
fraud, criminal activity, public safety and national security 
concerns. The Secretary of Homeland Security has exempted this 
system from the following provisions of the Privacy Act, subject to 
the limitations set forth in 5 U.S.C. 552a(c)(3); (d); (e)(1), 
(e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H), (e)(4)(I), and (f) pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a 
(k)(2). These exemptions apply only to the extent that records in 
the system are subject to exemption pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a 
(k)(2). Exemptions from these particular subsections are justified, 
on a case-by-case basis to be determined at the time a request is 
made, for the following reasons:
    (a) From subsection (c)(3) (Accounting for Disclosures) because 
release of the accounting of disclosures could alert the subject of 
an investigation of an actual or potential criminal, civil, or 
regulatory violation to the existence of the investigation; and 
reveal investigative interest on the part of DHS as well as the 
recipient agency. Disclosure of the accounting would therefore 
present a serious impediment to law enforcement efforts and/or 
efforts to preserve national security. Disclosure of the

[[Page 45085]]

accounting would also permit the individual who is the subject of a 
record to impede the investigation, to tamper with witnesses or 
evidence, and to avoid detection or apprehension, which would 
undermine the entire investigative process.
    (b) From subsection (d) (Access to Records) because access to 
the records contained in this system of records could inform the 
subject of an investigation of an actual or potential criminal, 
civil, or regulatory violation, to the existence of the 
investigation, and reveal investigative interest on the part of DHS 
or another agency. Access to the records could permit the individual 
who is the subject of a record to impede the investigation, to 
tamper with witnesses or evidence, and to avoid detection or 
apprehension. Amendment of the records could interfere with ongoing 
investigations and law enforcement activities and would impose an 
impossible administrative burden by requiring investigations to be 
continuously reinvestigated. In addition, permitting access and 
amendment to such information could disclose security-sensitive 
information that could be detrimental to homeland security.
    (c) From subsection (e)(1) (Relevancy and Necessity of 
Information) because in the course of investigations into potential 
violations of Federal law, the accuracy of information obtained or 
introduced occasionally may be unclear or the information may not be 
strictly relevant or necessary to a specific investigation. In the 
interests of effective law enforcement, it is appropriate to retain 
all information that may aid in establishing patterns of unlawful 
activity.
    (d) From subsections (e)(4)(G) and (e)(4)(H) (Agency 
Requirements) because portions of this system are exempt from the 
individual access provisions of subsection (d) which exempts 
providing access because it could alert a subject to the nature or 
existence of an investigation, and thus there could be no procedures 
for that particular data. Procedures do exist for access for those 
portions of the system that are not exempted.
    (e) From subsection (e)(4)(I) (Agency Requirements) because 
providing such source information would impede law enforcement or 
intelligence by compromising the nature or existence of a 
confidential investigation.
    (f) From subsection (f) (Agency Rules) because portions of this 
system are exempt from the access and amendment provisions of 
subsection (d).

    Dated: August 20, 2009.
Mary Ellen Callahan,
Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-20760 Filed 8-28-09; 8:45 am]
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