[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78815-78816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32538]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[AAG/A Order No. 299-2002]


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

    Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 
552a), notice is hereby given that the Department of Justice proposes 
to establish a new system of records to be maintained by the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The Refugee Access 
Verification Unit Records (RAVU), JUSTICE/INS-006, is a new system of 
records for which no public notice consistent with the provisions of 5 
U.S.C. 552a (e)(4) and (11) has been published.
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and (11), the public is 
given a 30-day period in which to comment on proposed new routine use 
disclosures. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which has 
oversight responsibility under the Act, requires a 40-day period in 
which to conclude its review of the system. Therefore, please submit 
any comments by (insert date 30 days from the publication date of this 
notice). The public, OMB, and the Congress are invited to submit any 
comments to Mary Cahill, Management Analyst, Management and Planning 
Staff, Justice Management Division, Department of Justice, Washington, 
DC 20530 (Room 1400, National Place Building).
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), the Department has provided a 
report to OMB and the Congress on this system.

    Dated: December 13, 2002.
Paul R. Corts,
Assistant Attorney General for Administration.
Justice/INS-006

System Name:
    Refugee Access Verification Unit Records (RAVU).

System Location:
    The system is accessible only to the Refugee Branch at the Office 
of International Affairs, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), 
425 I Street NW., Second Floor, Union Labor Life Building, Washington, 
DC 20536. The location may change at the discretion of and depending on 
the needs of the INS.

Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
    (Please note: The system description pertains to refugees. However, 
this notice is designed to cover only United States citizens (USCs) and 
lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who are included in this information 
system.)
    (1) Refugee applicants with priority three (P3) and priority four 
(P4) status, who are conditionally approved for refugee resettlement 
but have not yet traveled to the United States;
    (2) P3 and P4 refugee applicants who have not yet received a 
refugee classification interview by INS; and
    (3) Anchor relatives (i.e., lawful permanent residents and/or 
United States citizen relatives) in the United States who have filed an 
Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) on behalf of a refugee applicant 
overseas under the P3 and P4 worldwide processing priorities.

Categories of Records in the System:
    This system contains copies of refugee applications and interview 
worksheets, INS applications and related forms, affidavits of 
relationship, AOR review checklists and decision notices; biographic 
and demographic information such as family trees and documents of 
identity, communications from voluntary agencies, Members of Congress, 
U.S. Government agencies, and international organizations; and 
biographic and demographic information stored electronically such as 
anchor name and address, applicant name, voluntary agency and decision.

Authority for Maintenance of the System:
    8 U.S.C. 1522(b) (Authorization for Programs for Initial Domestic 
Resettlement of and Assistance to Refugees) and 22 U.S.C. 1157 (Annual 
Admission of Refugees and Admission of Emergency Situation Refugees).

Purposes:
    To create a system of records for storing and reporting the results 
of the AOR review mandated by the Homeland Security Council.

Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System Including Categories 
of Users and Purpose of Such Uses:
    A. To the appropriate agency/organization/task force, regardless of

[[Page 78816]]

whether it is federal, state, local, foreign, or tribal, charged with 
the enforcement (e.g., investigation and prosecution) of a law 
(criminal or civil), regulation, or treaty, of any record contained in 
this system of records which indicates either on its face, or in 
conjunction with other information, a violation or potential violation 
of that law, regulation, or treaty.
    B. To an attorney or representative who is acting on behalf of an 
individual covered by this system of records (as defined in 8 CFR 
1.1(j)) in conjunction with any proceeding before the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service or the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
    C. To the news media and the public pursuant to 28 CFR 50.2 unless 
it is determined that release of the specific information in the 
context of a particular case would constitute an unwarranted invasion 
of personal privacy.
    D. To a Member of Congress, or staff acting upon the Member's 
behalf, when the Member or staff requests the information on behalf of 
and at the request of the individual who is the subject of the record.
    E. To the General Services Administration (GSA) and the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in records management 
inspections conducted under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
    F. To contractors, grantees, experts, consultants, students, and 
others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative 
agreement, or other assignment for the Federal Government, when 
necessary to accomplish an agency function related to this system of 
records.
    G. To a former employee of the Department for purposes of: 
responding to an official inquiry by a federal, state, or local 
government entity or professional licensing authority, in accordance 
with applicable Department regulations; or facilitating communications 
with a former employee that may be necessary for personnel-related or 
other official purposes where the Department requires information and/
or consultation assistance from the former employee regarding a matter 
within that person's former area of responsibility.

Storage:
    Records are stored in electronic media and printed copies.

Retrievability:
    By case number, alien number, and applicant name.

Safeguards:
    All records containing personal information are maintained in 
secured file cabinets or in restricted areas, access to which is 
limited to authorized personnel of the INS. Where the records are 
computerized, access is under the direct supervision of the system 
manager.

Retention and Disposal:
    The following INS proposal for retention and disposal is pending 
approval by NARA
    RAVU electronic records will be maintained on a desktop computer 
for two years and then transferred to CD-ROM, where they will be 
maintained for 18 years before destruction. RAVU case files will be 
maintained for two years and then destroyed.

System Manager (s) and Address:
    Director, Refugee Branch, Office of International Affairs, 111 
Massachusetts Avenue, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20536.

Notification Procedure:
    Individuals who have reason to believe the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service might have Refugee Access Verification Unit 
Records pertaining to themselves should write to the System Manager 
identified above. The individual must specify that he/she requests RAVU 
records to be checked regarding a specific affidavit of relationship. 
At a minimum, the individual must include: name, date and place of 
birth, his/her INS ``A'' number, current mailing address and zip code, 
names of relatives petitioned for on the affidavit of relationship, and 
a notarized signature or pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, make a dated 
statement under penalty of perjury as a substitute for notarization.

Records Access Procedure:
    Make all requests for access in writing to the Freedom of 
Information Act/Privacy Act Office at 425 I Street NW, Second Floor, 
Union Labor Life Building, Washington, DC 20536, or to the System 
Manager noted above. Clearly mark the envelope and letter ``Privacy Act 
Request.'' The requester must specify that he/she requests RAVU records 
to be checked regarding a specific affidavit of relationship. At a 
minimum, the requester must include: name, date and place of birth, 
his/her INS ``A'' number, current mailing address and zip code, names 
of relatives petitioned for on the affidavit of relationship, and a 
notarized signature or pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, make a dated 
statement under penalty of perjury as a substitute for notarization.

Contesting Records Procedures:
    Direct all requests to contest or amend information in the record 
to the FOIA/PA Officer at the address identified above. State clearly 
and concisely the information being contested, the reason for 
contesting it, and the proposed amendment thereof. Clearly mark the 
envelope ``Privacy Act Request.'' The record must be identified in the 
same manner as described for making a request for access.

Record Source Categories:
    These records contain information obtained directly from the 
individual who is the subject of these records as well as relatives, 
sponsors, Members of Congress, U.S. Government agencies, voluntary 
agencies, international organizations, and local sources at overseas 
posts.

Systems Exempted From Certain Provisions of the Act:
    None.

[FR Doc. 02-32538 Filed 12-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-P