[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46917-46918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13299]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary


United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology 
Program (``US-VISIT''); Notice to Aliens Subject to US-VISIT Screening

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice identifies the port of entry of Fresno, 
California, the sea

[[Page 46918]]

port of entry of New Orleans, Louisiana, and the pre-flight inspection 
location of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, as locations at which the 
Department of Homeland Security will begin biometric screening of 
arriving aliens using the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status 
Indicator Technology Program.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This notice is effective August 15, 2006 for Fresno, 
California, on or before October 1, 2006, for Halifax, Nova Scotia, 
Canada and October 15, 2006, for New Orleans, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Rouse or Craig Howie, Senior 
Policy Advisors, US-VISIT, Department of Homeland Security, 1616 Fort 
Myer Drive, 18th Floor, Arlington, Virginia 22209, (202) 298-5200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 5, 2004, the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) established the United States Visitor and 
Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Program in accordance 
with several statutory mandates that collectively require DHS to create 
an integrated, automated biometric entry and exit system that records 
the arrival and departure of aliens; verifies the identities of aliens; 
and authenticates travel documents presented by such aliens through the 
comparison of biometric identifiers. Aliens subject to US-VISIT may be 
required to provide fingerscans, photographs, or other biometric 
identifiers upon arrival in, or departure from, the United States. See 
69 FR 468 (Jan. 5, 2004) and 69 FR 53318 (Aug. 31, 2004) for 
information on the background, legal mandates, and legal requirements 
of the US-VISIT Program. Additional information on US-VISIT and the 
most up-to-date list of ports of entry where US-VISIT is operational 
can be found on the Internet at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=91.
    DHS regulations at 8 CFR 235.1(d)(1)(ii) note that DHS will 
designate by notice in the Federal Register ports of entry where aliens 
will be required to provide fingerscans, photograph(s), or other 
specified biometric identifiers during the inspection process when 
applying for entry or admission into the United States. This notice 
fulfills the requirements of 8 CFR 235.1(d)(1)(ii).
    This Notice makes no changes to existing US-VISIT requirements, 
processes, or classifications of aliens subject to or exempt from US-
VISIT biometric screening. This Notice merely identifies additional 
ports of entry and a pre-flight inspection location that will be using 
US-VISIT biometric screening.
    US-VISIT biometric screening will begin at Fresno, Halifax, and New 
Orleans as follows:
    Fresno, California (Fresno-Yosemite International Airport), which 
will begin biometric screening on August 15, 2006.
    Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Halifax International Airport, Pre-
Flight Inspection), which will begin biometric screening on or before 
October 1, 2006. Halifax is the eighth pre-flight screening location in 
Canada to use US-VISIT biometric screening.
    New Orleans, Louisiana (Erato Street Cruise Terminal), which will 
begin biometric screening on October 15, 2006.
    DHS notes the date of October 1, 2006, for Halifax is an estimate. 
It is possible that the pre-flight inspection facilities in Halifax 
will be ready prior to October 1, 2006. Should Halifax pre-flight 
inspection be ready before October 1, 2006, or if the opening of this 
pre-flight inspection facility is delayed beyond October 1, 2006, a 
revised estimated start date will be posted on the US-VISIT Internet 
site at the address noted above. Further, DHS will communicate the 
exact date Halifax will begin US-VISIT biometric screening directly to 
local area news media, civic organizations, and the transportation and 
travel industry once that date has been established.

    Dated: August 7, 2006.
Michael Chertoff,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-13299 Filed 8-14-06; 8:45 am]
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