[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27660-27661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12840]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

8 CFR Part 207

[INS No. 1999-99]
RIN 1115-AF49


Application for Refugee Status; Acceptable Sponsorship Agreement 
and Guaranty of Transportation

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) 
authorizes the Attorney General to admit refugees to the United States 
under certain conditions, including those provided for by regulation. 
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service) regulations 
require that sponsorship agreements be secured before an applicant is 
granted admission as a refugee at a U.S. port-of-entry (POE). The 
determination of whether or not someone is classified as a refugee is 
described in the Act as a separate decision from whether a refugee may 
be admitted to the United States in refugee status. This rule amends 
the Service regulations by removing language that erroneously implies 
that the Service requires a sponsorship agreement and guaranty of 
transportation prior to determining whether an applicant is a refugee. 
This rule is necessary to clarify issues that may appear ambiguous in 
the existing regulation, and provides more advantageous treatment for 
the limited number of applicants for refugee status who have their 
Service interviews before sponsorship agreements have been secured.

DATES: Effective date: This interim rule is effective May 21, 1999.
    Comment date: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 
20, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments in triplicate to the 
Director, Policy Directives and Instructions Branch, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service, 425 I Street, NW, Room 5307, Washington, DC 
20536. To ensure proper handling, please reference INS number 1999-99 
on your correspondence. Comments are available for public inspection at 
the above address by calling (202) 514-3048 to arrange for an 
appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Thompson, Office of 
International Affairs, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20536, Telephone (202) 305-2662.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 207 of the Act authorizes the 
Attorney General to admit refugees to the United States under certain 
conditions. By regulation, sponsorship is required before a refugee can 
be admitted to the United States. Sponsorship ensures refugees who are 
admitted to the United States transportation, housing, and assistance 
in this country. Sponsorship is a requirement separate and apart from 
the determination that an applicant is classified as a refugee. The 
current regulations at 8 CFR 207.2(d), states that: ``[t]he application 
for refugee status will not be approved until the Service receives an 
acceptable sponsorship agreement and guaranty of transportation in 
[sic] behalf of the applicant.''
    This sentence may inappropriately imply that there is a requirement 
to have secured sponsorship in advance of a determination to be 
classified as a refugee, which is not the case. The Service has never 
required the sponsorship assurance before determining whether an 
applicant meets the definition of refugee under section 101(a)(42) of 
the Act.
    All refugees seeking admission to the United States must satisfy 
the statutory and regulatory requirements before the Service can admit 
them to the United States. For example, a refugee must have a sponsor 
at the time he or she appears at a U.S. POE with an approved Form I-
590, Registration for Classification as Refugee, in order to be 
admitted as a refugee. If the required sponsorship has not been secured 
or the required medical screening has not been completed, and the 
refugee arrives at a U.S. POE, the immigration inspector cannot admit 
the refugee.

Good Cause Exception

    This interim rule is effective upon date of publication in the 
Federal Register, although the Service invites post-promulgation 
comments within a 60-day comment period and will address any such 
comments in a final rule. For the following reasons, the Service finds 
that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and (d)(3) for 
implementing this rule as an interim rule without the prior notice and 
comment period ordinarily required under this provision. This rule 
simply clarifies issues that may appear ambiguous in the existing 
regulation, and provides more advantageous treatment for the limited 
number of applicants for refugee status who have their Service 
interviews before sponsorship agreements have been secured. Early 
implementation will be advantageous to the intended beneficiaries of 
this rule. Therefore, it is unnecessary and contrary to the public

[[Page 27661]]

interest to delay the implementation of this rule until after a notice 
and comment period.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 605(b), has reviewed this regulation and, by 
approving it, certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because of 
the following factors: This rule clarifies the difference between 
refugee classification and refugee status. It also clarifies the timing 
and significance of those determinations. This change will not affect 
small entities.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any 1 year, and it will not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 804 of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act of 1996. This rule will not 
result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, a 
major increase in costs or prices, or significant adverse effects on 
competition, employment investment, productivity, innovation, or on the 
ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-based 
companies in domestic and export markets.

Executive Order 12866

    This rule is not considered by the Department of Justice, 
Immigration and Naturalization Service, to be a significant regulatory 
action under Executive Order 12866, section 3(f), Regulatory Planning 
and Review. Accordingly, the Office of Management and Budget has waived 
its review process under section 6(a)(3)(A).

Executive Order 12612

    The regulation adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the National 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this rule 
does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Executive Order 12988 Civil Justice Reform

    This interim rule meets the applicable standards set forth in 
sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of E.O. 12988.

List of Subjects in 8 CFR Part 207

    Immigration, Refugees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    Accordingly, part 207 of chapter I of title 8 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 207--ADMISSION OF REFUGEES

    1. The authority citation for part 207 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 1151, 1157, 1158, 1159, 1182; 8 
CFR part 2.


Sec. 207.2  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 207.2, paragraph (d) is amended by removing the last 
sentence.

    Dated: May 11, 1999.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 99-12840 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
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