Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 112 / Friday, June 9, 2000 / Notices 36721

documentation. This action by the

Service through this Federal Register

notice does not affect the right of an

employee to present any legally

acceptable document as proof of

identity and eligibility for employment.

Employers are reminded that the laws

prohibiting unfair immigration-related

employment practices remain in full

force. Employers may call the Service’s

Office of Business Liaison Employer

Hotline at 1–800–357–2099 to speak to

a Service representative about this

Notice. Employers can also call the

Office of Special Counsel for

Immigration Related Unfair

Employment Practices (OSC) Employer

Hotline at 1–800–255–8155. Employees

or applicants can call the OSC

Employee Hotline at 1–800–255–7688

about the automatic extension.

Doe This Notice Affect Any Other

Portion of the May 11, 2000 Federal

Register Notice Extending TPS

Designation for Honduras Until July 5,

2001?

No. All other TPS requirements

contained in the May 11, 2000, Federal

Register notice at 65 FR 30438 are

accurate and remain in effect.

Dated: May 25, 2000.

Doris Meissner,

Commissioner, Immigration and

Naturalization Service.

[FR Doc. 00–14534 Filed 6–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

[INS No. 2064R–00]

RIN 1115–AE26

Extension of Re-Registration Period

and Work Authorization for

Nicaraguans Under Temporary

Protected Status Program

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization

Service.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice extends the reregistration period until July 5, 2000 for

those eligible nationals of Nicaragua (or

aliens having no nationality who last

habitually resided in Nicaragua) who

may re-register for Temporary Protected

Status (TPS) and apply for a new period

of employment authorization. On May

11, 2000, through a notice in the

Federal Register at 65 FR 30440, the

Attorney General extended the TPS

designation of Nicaragua for an

additional 12-month period, until July

5, 2001. The May 11, 2000 Federal

Register notice also set the end of the

filing period for re-registration at June

12, 2000, which is now being changed

to July 5, 2000.

In addition to extending the reregistration period, this notice extends

until December 5, 2000 the validity of

Employment Authorization Documents

(EADs) that were issued to Nicaraguan

nationals (or aliens having no

nationality who last habitually resided

in Nicaragua) under the initial TPS

designation and that are set to expire on

July 5, 2000. To be eligible for this

automatic extension of employment

authorization, an individual must be a

national of Nicaragua (or an alien

having no nationality who last

habitually resided in Nicaragua) who

previously applied for and received an

EAD under the initial January 5, 1999

designation of Nicaragua for TPS. This

automatic extension is limited to EADs

bearing an expiration date of July 5,

2000 and the notation:

• ‘‘A–12’’ or ‘‘C–19’’ on the face of the

card under ‘‘Category’’ for EADs issued

on Form I–766; or,

• ‘‘274A.12(A)(12)’’ or

‘‘274A.12(C)(19)’’ on the face of the card

under ‘‘Provision of Law’’ for EADs

issued on Form I–688B.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The extension of the

TPS designation for Nicaragua is

effective July 6, 2000, and will remain

in effect until July 5, 2001. The reregistration period began May 11, 2000

and will remain in effect until July 5,

2000. All EADs that were issued to

Nicaraguan nationals (or aliens having

no nationality who last habitually

resided in Nicaragua) under the initial

Nicaragua TPS designation and that are

set to expire on July 5, 2000 are

automatically extended until December

5, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Hardin, Office of

Adjudications, Immigration and

Naturalization Service, Room 3214, 425

I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536,

telephone (202) 514–4754.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Why Did the Immigration and

Naturalization Service Decide To

Extend the Re-Registration Period for

Nicaraguans Filing for an Extension of

Temporary Protected Status?

The extreme devastation of Hurricane

Mitch prompted the Attorney General to

make an unprecedented original 18-

month designation under TPS for

Nicaragua. Typically, TPS designations

are for 12 months, which is also the

time period after which TPS applicants

must annually register with the

Immigration and Naturalization Service

(Service). 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(C). This

annual registration must take place

within 30 days of the anniversary of the

initial grant of Temporary Protected

Status. 8 CFR 244.17.

The initial 18-month grant of TPS

status to Nicaragua, combined with

EADs issued under TPS designations for

Nicaragua stating July 5, 2000 as their

expiration date, has caused confusion as

to when a Nicaraguan TPS applicant is

required to file for a TPS extension.

Because of this, the Service is extending

the dates for re-registration by this

Notice until the last day of the initial

Nicaragua TPS designation, July 5, 2000.

When Can I Register for an Extension

of TPS?

The re-registration period begins May

11, 2000 and will remain in effect until

July 5, 2000. Applications must be

physically received, not just

postmarked, at the appropriate Service

Center by July 5, 2000. For further filing

instructions, see the previous notice in

the May 11, 2000 Federal Register.

What Forms Must I Send in Order To

Register for an Extension of TPS?

As previously stated in the May 11,

2000 Federal Register notice, in order to

re-register under the TPS program, you

must file your TPS application, Form I–

821 (without fee) and an application for

employment authorization, Form I–765.

If you want an EAD, you must submit

a fee of $100. If you are not requesting

employment authorization, you do not

need to submit a fee. Both forms I–821

and I–765 must be received by the

appropriate Service Center by July 5,

2000.

Why Is the Service Automatically

Extending the Expiration Date of EADs

From July 5, 2000 to December 5, 2000?

As stated above, qualified individuals

must apply for a new EAD in order to

register for an extension of TPS.

Considering both the number of

applications that the Service anticipates

it will receive and Service processing

capabilities given the short timeframe

provided by statute for the decision to

extend the Attorney General’s

designation of Nicaragua under the TPS

program, it is likely that many reregistrants will receive their new EAD

after the expiration date of their current

EAD. Unless an extension on the

expiration date of their EAD is

provided, re-registrants may experience

a gap in employment authorization.

Therefore, to afford the Service

sufficient processing time and to ensure

that re-registrants will be able to

maintain their employment

authorization until they receive a new

36722 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 112 / Friday, June 9, 2000 / Notices

EAD in connection with their reregistration for the new period of TPS,

the Service, through this notice, is

extending the validity of applicable

EADs to December 5, 2000.

Who Is Eligible To Receive an

Automatic Extension of Employment

Authorization?

To be eligible for an automatic

extension of employment authorization,

an individual must be a national of

Nicaragua (or an alien having no

nationality who last habitually resided

in Nicaragua) who previously applied

for and received an EAD under the

initial January 5, 1999 designation of

Nicaragua for TPS. This automatic

extension is limited to EADs bearing an

expiration date of July 5, 2000 and the

notation:

• ‘‘A–12’’ or ‘‘C–19’’ on the face of the

card under ‘‘Category’’ for EADs issued

on Form I–766; or,

• ‘‘274A.12(A)(12)’’ or

‘‘274A.12(C)(19)’’ on the face of the card

under ‘‘Provision of Law’’ for EADs

issued on Form I–688B.

Does a Qualified Individual Have To

Apply to the Service for the Automatic

Extension to December 5, 2000 of His or

Her TPS-Related EAD?

No, the extension of the validity of the

previously issued EADs to December 5,

2000 is automatic and there is no fee.

However, as discussed below, qualified

individuals are encouraged to retain a

copy of this Federal Register notice for

purposes of the employment verification

process. Also, qualified individuals

must re-register by July 5, 2000 in order

to be eligible for a new EAD that is valid

until July 5, 2001.

What Documents Can a Qualified

Individual Show to His or Her

Employer as Proof of Employment

Authorization and Identity When

Completing the Employment Eligibility

Verification Form (Form I–9)?

For completion of the Form I–9 at the

time of hire or reverification, qualified

individuals who have received an

extension of employment authorization

by virtue of this Federal Register notice

can present to their employer their TPSrelated EAD as proof of valid

employment authorization and identity

until December 5, 2000. To minimize

confusion over this extension at the

time of hire or re-verification, qualified

individuals may also present to their

employer a copy of this Federal Register

notice regarding the extension of

employment authorization to December

5, 2000. In the alternative to presenting

a TPS-related EAD, any legally

acceptable document or combination of

documents listed in List A, List B, or

List C of the Form I–9 may be presented

as proof of identity and employment

eligibility; it is the choice of the

employee.

How can Employers Determine Which

EADs That Have Been Automatically

Extended Through December 5, 2000

are Acceptable for Completion of the

Form I–9?

For the purposes of verifying identity

and employment eligibility or reverifying employment eligibility on the

Form I–9 until December 5, 2000,

employers of TPS Nicaraguan nationals

(or aliens having no nationality who last

habitually resided in Nicaragua) whose

employment authorization has been

automatically extended by this notice

must accept an EAD that contains an

expiration date of July 5, 2000 and that

bears the notation:

• ‘‘A–12’’ or ‘‘C–19’’ on the face of the

card under ‘‘Category’’ for EADs issued

on Form I–766; or,

• ‘‘274A.12(A)(12)’’ or

‘‘274A.12(C)(19)’’ on the face of the card

under ‘‘Provision of Law’’ for EADs

issued on Form I–688B.

New EADs or extension stickers

showing the December 5, 2000

expiration date will not be issued.

Employers should not request proof of

Nicaraguan citizenship. Employers

presented with an EAD that has been

extended by this Federal Register notice

and that appears to be genuine and to

relate to the employee should accept the

document as a valid List A document

and should not ask for additional I–19

documentation. This action by the

Service through this Federal Register

notice does not affect the right of an

employee to present any legally

acceptable document as proof of

identity and eligibility for employment.

Employers are reminded that the laws

prohibiting unfair immigration-related

employment practices remain in full

force. Employers may call the Service’s

Office of Business Liaison Employer

Hotline at 1–800–357–2099 to speak to

a Service representative about this

Notice. Employers can also call the

Office of Special Counsel for

Immigration Related Unfair

Employment Practices (OSC) Employer

Hotline at 1–800–255–8155. Employees

or applicants can call the OSC

Employee Hotline at 1–800–255–7688

about the automatic extension. Does this

notice affect any other portion of the

May 11, 2000 Federal Register notice

extending TPS designation for

Nicaragua until July 5, 2001?

No. All other TPS requirements

contained in the May 11, 2000, Federal

Register notice at 65 FR 30440 are

accurate and remain in effect.

Dated: May 25, 2000.

Doris Meissner,

Commissioner, Immigration and

Naturalization Service.

[FR Doc. 00–14533 Filed 6–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Justice Statistics

[OJP(BJS)–1272]

Profiles of Criminal Justice Systems in

Selected Countries

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs,

Bureau of Justice Statistics, Justice.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is

to announce a solicitation for the

preparation of criminal justice system

profiles for five countries in Latin

America, to be added to BJS’s World

Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems.

DATES: Proposals must be received by 5

p.m. EST on July 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Proposals should be mailed

to Lea S. Gifford, Statistician, Bureau of

Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street

NW, Washington, D.C. 20531; Phone:

(202) 307–0765 [This is not a toll-free

number].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lea

S. Gifford, Statistician, Bureau of Justice

Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW,

Washington, D.C. 20531; Phone: (202)

307–0765 [This is not a toll-free

number].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statutory Authority

The grant awarded through this

solicitation will be funded by the

Bureau of Justice Statistics consistent

with its mandate under 42 U.S.C.

3732(c).

Program Goals

The purpose of this award is to

support the development of descriptive

criminal justice system profiles of

individual countries written in English,

designed to facilitate comparisons

between the United States and the other

Latin American countries profiled.

These profiles will serve as a resource

for program and policy development in

Latin America, for researchers engaged

in cross-country analysis, and for those

examining the relationship between

differing systems of justice and crossnational crime.