[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39472-39473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19208]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Immigration and Naturalization Service

[INS No. 1778-96; AG Order No. 2045-96]
[RIN 1115-AE26]


Extension of Designation of Somalia Under Temporary Protected 
Status Program

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends, until September 17, 1997, the Attorney 
General's designation of Somalia under the Temporary Protected Status 
(``TPS'') program provided for in section 244A of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act, as amended (``the Act''). Accordingly, eligible aliens 
who are nationals of Somalia (or who have no nationality and who last 
habitually resided in Somalia) may re-register for Temporary Protected 
Status and extension of employment authorization. This re-registration 
is limited to persons who already have registered for the initial 
period of TPS which ended on September 16, 1992.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This extension of designation is effective on 
September 18, 1996, and will remain in effect until September 17, 1997. 
The primary re-registration procedures become effective on August 19, 
1996 and will remain in effect until September 17, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ronald Chirlin, Adjudications Officer, Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, Room 3214, 425 I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20326, telephone 
(202) 514-5014.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 244A of the Act, as amended by 
section 302(a) of Public Law 101-649 and section 304(b) of Public Law 
102-232 (8 U.S.C. 1254a), the Attorney General is authorized to grant 
Temporary Protected Status in the United States to eligible aliens who 
are nationals of a foreign state designated by the Attorney General, or 
who have no

[[Page 39473]]

nationality and who last habitually resided in that state. The Attorney 
General may designate a state upon finding that the state is 
experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or certain 
other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent nationals or 
residents of the country from returning in safety.
    Effective on September 16, 1991, the Attorney General designated 
Somalia for Temporary Protected Status for a period of 12 months, 56 FR 
46804. The Attorney General extended the designation of Somalia under 
the TPS program for additional 12-month periods until September 17, 
1996, 60 FR 39005.
    This notice extends the designation of Somalia under the Temporary 
Protected Status program for an additional 12 months, in accordance 
with section 244A(b)(3) (A) and (C) of the Act. This notice also 
describes the procedures that eligible aliens who are nationals of 
Somalia (or who have no nationality and who last habitually resided in 
Somalia) must follow in order to re-register for TPS.
    In addition to timely re-registrations and late re-registrations 
authorized by this notice's extension of Somalia's TPS destination, 
late initial registrations are possible for some Somalis under 8 CFR 
240.2(f)(2). Such late initial registrants must have been 
``continuously physically present'' in the United States since 
September 16, 1991, must have had a valid immigrant or non-immigrant 
status during the original registration period, and must register no 
later than 30 days from the expiration of such status.
    An Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, must 
always be filed as part of either a re-registration or as part of a 
late initial registration together with the Application for Temporary 
Protected Status, Form I-821. The appropriate filing fee must accompany 
Form I-765 unless a properly documented fee waiver request is submitted 
to the Immigration and Naturalization Service or the applicant does not 
wish to obtain employment authorization. The Immigration and 
Naturalization Service requires TPS registrants to submit Form I-765 
for data-gathering purposes.

Notice of Extension of Designation of Somalia Under the Temporary 
Protected Status Program

    By the authority vested in me as Attorney General under section 
244A of the immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, (8 U.S.C. 
1254a), and pursuant to sections 244A(b) (3) (A) and (C) of the Act, I 
have had consultations with appropriate agencies of the Government 
concerning (a) the conditions in Somalia; and (b) whether permitting 
nationals of Somalia, and aliens having no nationality who last 
habitually resided in Somalia, to remain temporarily in the United 
States is contrary to the national interest of the United States. As as 
result, I determine that the conditions for the original designation of 
Temporary Protected Status for Somalia continue to be met. Accordingly, 
it is ordered as follows:
    (1) The designation of Somalia under section 244A(b) of the Act is 
extended for an additional 12-month period from September 18, 1996, to 
September 17, 1997.
    (2) I estimate that there are approximately 350 nationals of 
Somalia, and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided 
in Somalia, who have been granted Temporary Protected Status and who 
are eligible for re-registration.
    (3) In order to maintain current registration for Temporary 
Protected Status, a national of Somalia (or an alien having no 
nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) who received a 
grant of TPS during the initial period of designation from September 
16, 1991, to September 16, 1992, must comply with the re-registration 
requirements contained in 8 CFR 240.17, which are described in 
pertinent part in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this notice.
    (4) A national of Somalia (or an alien having no nationality who 
last habitually resided in Somalia) who previously has been granted 
TPS, must re-register by filing a new Application for Temporary 
Protected Status, Form I-821, together with an Application for 
Employment Authorization, Form I-765, within the 30-day period 
beginning on August 19, 1996 in order to be eligible for Temporary 
Protected Status during the period from September 18, 1996, until 
September 17, 1997. Late re-registration applications will be allowed 
pursuant to 8 CFR 240.17(c).
    (5) There is no fee for Form I-821 filed as part of the re-
registration application. A Form I-765 must also be filed at the same 
time. If the alien requests employment authorization for the extension 
period, the fee prescribed in 8 CFR 103.7(b)(1), currently seventy 
dollars ($70), will be charged for Form I-765. An alien who does not 
request employment authorization must nonetheless file Form I-765 
together with Form I-821, but in such cases no fee will be charged.
    (6) Pursuant to section 244(b)(3)(A) of the Act, the Attorney 
General will review, at least 60 days before September 17, 1997, the 
designation of Somalia under the TPS program to determine whether the 
conditions for designation continue to be met. Notice of that 
determination, including the basis for the determination, will be 
published in the Federal Register.
    (7) Information concerning the TPS program for nationals of 
Somalia, and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided 
in Somalia, will be available at local immigration and Naturalization 
Service offices upon publication of this notice.

    Dated: July 23, 1996.
Janet Reno,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 96-19208 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
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