[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59736-59737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29078]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1877-97; AG Order No. 2125-97]
RIN 1115-AE26


Designation of Sierra Leone Under Temporary Protected Status

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as 
amended, (the Act), the Attorney General is authorized to grant 
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States to eligible 
nationals of designated foreign states (or to eligible aliens who have 
no nationality and who last habitually resided in a designated state) 
upon a finding that such states are experiencing ongoing civil strife, 
environmental disaster, or certain other extraordinary and temporary 
conditions. This notice designates Sierra Leone for TPS pursuant to 
section 244(b)(1) of the Act.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This designation is effective on November 4, 1997 and 
will remain in effect until November 3, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ronald Chirlin, Adjudications Officer, Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, 425 I Street, NW., Room 3214, Washington, DC 20536, telephone 
(202) 514-5014.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sierra Leoneans who wish to remain in the 
United States under Temporary Protected Status should apply during the 
initial registration period announced in this notice, unless they would 
be eligible for late initial registration under 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) 
(formerly Sec. 240.2(f)(2)) and they choose to wait. This 
recommendation applies to any Sierra Leonean who has already applied 
for, or plans to apply for, asylum but whose asylum application has not 
yet been approved.
    An application for Temporary Protected Status does not preclude or 
adversely affect an application for asylum or any other immigration 
benefit. Sierra Leoneans who apply for TPS during the initial 
registration period will remain eligible to re-register if the 
designation of TPS is extended, even if an application for asylum or 
another immigration benefit is denied. However, without a TPS 
application during the initial registration period, only those Sierra 
Leoneans who satisfy the requirements for late initial registration 
under 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) (formerly Sec. 240.2(f)(2)) would be eligible 
for TPS registration during any extension of this designation.
    Sierra Leoneans who already have employment authorization, 
including some asylum applicants, and Sierra Leoneans who have no need 
for employment authorization, including minor children, may register 
for TPS by filing an Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form 
I-821, which requires a filing fee. The Application for Temporary 
Protected Status, Form I-821, must always be accompanied by an 
Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, which is required 
for data-gathering purposes. The appropriate filing fee must accompany 
Form I-765, unless a properly documented fee waiver request is 
submitted under 8 CFR 244.20 (formerly Sec. 240.20) to the Immigration 
and Naturalization Service or the applicant does not wish to obtain 
employment authorization.

Notice of Designation of Sierra Leone Under Temporary Protected Status 
Program

    By the authority vested in me as Attorney General under section 244 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C.A. 1254 
(West Supp. 1997)), I find, after consultation with the appropriate 
agencies of the Government, that:
    (1) There exists an ongoing armed conflict in Sierra Leone and a 
return of aliens who are nationals of Sierra Leone (and aliens having 
no nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra Leone) would pose 
a serious threat to their personal safety as a result of the armed 
conflict in that nation;
    (2) There exist extraordinary and temporary conditions in Sierra 
Leone that prevent aliens who are nationals of Sierra Leone (and aliens 
having no nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra Leone) from 
returning to Sierra Leone in safety; and
    (3) Permitting nationals of Sierra Leone (and aliens having no 
nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra

[[Page 59737]]

Leone) to remain temporarily in the United States is not contrary to 
the national interest of the United States.
    Accordingly, it is ordered as follows:
    (1) Sierra Leone is designated under sections 244(b)(1) (A) and (C) 
of the Act. Nationals of Sierra Leone (and aliens having no nationality 
who last habitually resided in Sierra Leone) who have been 
``continuously physically present'' and have ``continuously resided in 
the United States'' since November 4, 1997 may apply for Temporary 
Protected Status within the registration period which begins on 
November 4, 1997.
    (2) I estimate that there are no more than 4,000 nationals of 
Sierra Leone (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually 
resided in Sierra Leone) who are currently in nonimmigrant or unlawful 
status and therefore eligible for Temporary Protected Status.
    (3) Applications for TPS by nationals of Sierra Leone (and aliens 
having no nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra Leone) must 
be filed pursuant to the provisions of 8 CFR part 244. Aliens who wish 
to apply for TPS must file an Application for Temporary Protected 
Status, Form I-821, together with an Application for Employment 
Authorization, Form I-765, during the registration period, which begins 
on November 4, 1997 and will remain in effect until November 13, 1998.
    (4) A fee of fifty dollars ($50) will be charged for each 
Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, filed during 
the registration period.
    (5) The fee prescribed in 8 CFR 103.7(b)(1), which is currently 
seventy dollars ($70), will be charged for each Application for 
Employment Authorization, Form I-765, filed by an alien requesting 
employment authorization. An alien who does not request employment 
authorization must nevertheless file Form I-765, together with Form I-
821, for informational purposes, but in such cases Form I-765 will be 
without fee.
    (6) Pursuant to section 244(b)(3)(A) of the Act, the Attorney 
General will review, at least 60 days before November 3, 1998, the 
designation of Sierra Leone under the TPS program to determine whether 
the conditions for designation continue to exist. Notice of that 
determination, including the basis for the determination, will be 
published in the Federal Register. If there is an extension of 
designation, late initial registration for TPS shall only be allowed 
pursuant to the requirements of 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2).
    (7) Information concerning the TPS program for nationals of Sierra 
Leone (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in 
Sierra Leone) will be available at local Immigration and Naturalization 
Service offices upon publication of this notice.

    Dated: October 28, 1997.
Janet Reno,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 97-29078 Filed 11-3-97; 8:45 am]
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