[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43351-43352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21298]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[AAG/A Order No. 141-97]


Privacy Act of 1974; As Amended by The Computer Matching and 
Privacy Protection Act of 1988

    This notice is published in the Federal Register in accordance with 
the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended by the Computer 
Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (CMPPA) (5 U.S.C. 
552a(e)(12)). The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), 
Department of Justice (the source agency), is participating in a 
computer matching program with the Massachusetts Department of 
Employment and Training (MA-DET) (the recipient agency). Matching 
activities under this program will permit MA-DET to confirm the 
immigration status of alien applicants for, or recipients of, 
unemployment compensation benefits under the ``Systematic Alien 
Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)'' program as required by the 
Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-603).
    Section 121(c) of IRCA amended section 1137 of the Social Security 
Act and other statutes to require agencies which administer the Federal 
Benefits programs designated within IRCA to use the INS verification 
system to determine eligibility. Accordingly, through the use of user 
identification codes and passwords, authorized persons from these 
agencies may electronically access the database of an INS system of 
records entitled ``Alien Status Verification Index, Justice/INS-009.'' 
From its automated records system, MA-DET may enter electronically into 
the INS database the alien registration number of the applicant or 
recipient. This action will initiate a search of the INS database for a 
corresponding alien registration number. Where such number is located, 
MA-DET will receive electronically from the INS database the following 
data upon which to determine eligibility: Alien registration number, 
last name, first name, date of birth, country of birth, social security 
number (if available), data of entry, immigration status data, and 
employment eligibility data. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(p), MA-
DET will provide the alien applicant with 30 days notice and an 
opportunity to contest any adverse finding before final action is taken 
against that alien because of ineligible immigration status as 
established through the computer match.
    The original effective date of the matching programs was February 
28, 1990, for which notice was published in the Federal Register on 
January 29, 1990 (55 FR 2890). The program has continued to date under 
the authority of a series of new approvals as required by the CMPPA. 
The CMPPA provides that based upon approval by agency Data Integrity 
Boards of a new computer matching agreement, computer matching 
activities may be conducted for 18 months and, contingent upon specific 
conditions, may be similarly extended by the Board for an additional

[[Page 43352]]

year without the necessity of a new agreement. The most recent one-year 
extension for this program will expire on September 9, 1997. Therefore, 
the Department's Data Integrity Board has approved a new agreement to 
permit the continuation of the above-named computer matching program 
for another 18-month period from the effective date (described below).
    Matching activities under the new agreement will be effective 30 
days after publication of this computer matching notice in the Federal 
Register, or 40 days after a report concerning the computer matching 
program has been transmitted to the Office of Management and Budget, 
and transmitted to Congress along with a copy of the agreements, 
whichever is later. The agreement (and matching activities) will 
continue for a period of 18 months from the effective date--unless, 
within 3 months prior to the expiration of the agreement, the Data 
Integrity Board approves a one-year extension pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
552a(o)(2)(D).
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(A) and (r), the required 
report is being provided to the Office of Management and Budget, and to 
the Congress together with a copy of the agreement.
    Inquiries may be addressed to Patricia E. Neely, Program Analyst, 
Information Resources Management, Justice Management Division, 
Information Management and Security Staff, Department of Justice, 
Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: August 7, 1997.
Stephen R. Colgate,
Assistant Attorney General for Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-21298 Filed 8-12-97; 8:45 am]
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