[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10633-10634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4900]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 9, 2010 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 10633]]



DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

6 CFR Part 5

[Docket No. DHS-2009-0415]


Privacy Act of 1974: Implementation of Exemptions; Department of 
Homeland Security United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement--
011 Immigration and Enforcement Operational Records System of Records

AGENCY: Privacy Office, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule to 
amend its regulations to exempt portions of a Department of Homeland 
Security/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement system of records 
titled, ``Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement--011 Removable Alien Records System of Records'' renamed 
``Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement--011 Immigration and Enforcement Operational Records System 
of Records'' from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. Specifically, 
the Department exempts portions of the Department of Homeland Security/
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--011 Immigration and 
Enforcement Operational Records system from one or more provisions of 
the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative 
enforcement requirements.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective March 9, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions please contact: 
Lyn Rahilly (202-732-3300), Privacy Officer, U.S. Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement, 500 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20536; e-
mail: [email protected]. For privacy issues please contact: Mary Ellen 
Callahan (703-235-0780), Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, 74 FR 30240, June 25, 
2009, proposing to exempt portions of the system of records from one or 
more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and 
administrative enforcement requirements. The DHS/U.S. Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement (ICE)--011 Removable Alien Records system of 
records notice was published concurrently in the Federal Register, 74 
FR 5665, January 30, 2009, and later updated in the Federal Register to 
add two new routine uses, 74 FR 20719, May 5, 2009. The system is being 
renamed DHS/ICE--011 Immigration and Enforcement Operational Records 
system of records. Comments were invited on both the notice of proposed 
rulemaking and system of records notice. Three comments were received 
on the notice of proposed rulemaking and system of records notice.

Public Comments

    The comment received on the notice of proposed rulemaking did not 
pertain to the notice of proposed rulemaking or system of records 
notice, but instead expressed the commenter's general views on 
immigration. DHS/ICE received two positive comments on the system of 
records notice expressing support for the two new routine uses added in 
the updated system of records notice. DHS will implement the rulemaking 
as proposed.

List of Subjects in 6 CFR Part 5

    Freedom of information; Privacy.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, DHS amends Chapter I of Title 
6, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 5--DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS AND INFORMATION

0
1. The authority citation for Part 5 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, 6 U.S.C. 101 et 
seq.; 5 U.S.C. 301. Subpart A also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552. 
Subpart B also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552a.


0
2. Add at the end of Appendix C to Part 5, the following new paragraph 
``48'' to read as follows:

Appendix C to Part 5--DHS Systems of Records Exempt From the Privacy 
Act

* * * * *
    48. The DHS/ICE-011 Immigration and Enforcement Operational 
Records system of records consists of electronic and paper records 
and will be used by DHS and its components. The DHS/ICE-011 
Immigration and Enforcement Operational Records system of records is 
a repository of information held by DHS in connection with its 
several and varied missions and functions, including, but not 
limited to: The enforcement of civil and criminal laws; 
investigations, inquiries, and proceedings there under; and national 
security and intelligence activities. The DHS/ICE-011 Immigration 
and Enforcement Operational Records system of records contains 
information that is collected by, on behalf of, in support of, or in 
cooperation with DHS and its components and may contain personally 
identifiable information collected by other federal, state, local, 
tribal, foreign, or international government agencies. The Secretary 
of Homeland Security has exempted this system from the following 
provisions of the Privacy Act, subject to the limitations set forth 
in 5 U.S.C. 552a(c)(3) and (4); (d); (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), 
(e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H), (e)(5), and (e)(8); (f); and (g) pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 552a(j)(2). Additionally, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
has exempted this system from the following provisions of the 
Privacy Act, subject to the limitations set forth in 5 U.S.C. 
552a(c)(3); (d); (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H); and (f) pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 552a(k)(2). Exemptions from these particular subsections are 
justified, on a case-by-case basis to be determined at the time a 
request is made, for the following reasons:
    (a) From subsection (c)(3) and (4) (Accounting for Disclosures) 
because release of the accounting of disclosures could alert the 
subject of an investigation of an actual or potential criminal, 
civil, or regulatory violation to the existence of the 
investigation, and reveal investigative interest on the part of DHS 
as well as the recipient agency. Disclosure of the accounting would 
therefore present a serious impediment to law enforcement efforts 
and/or efforts to preserve national security. Disclosure of the 
accounting would also permit the individual who is the subject of a 
record to impede the investigation, to tamper with witnesses or 
evidence, and to avoid detection or apprehension, which would 
undermine the entire investigative process.
    (b) From subsection (d) (Access to Records) because access to 
the records contained in

[[Page 10634]]

this system of records could inform the subject of an investigation 
of an actual or potential criminal, civil, or regulatory violation, 
to the existence of the investigation, and reveal investigative 
interest on the part of DHS or another agency. Access to the records 
could permit the individual who is the subject of a record to impede 
the investigation, to tamper with witnesses or evidence, and to 
avoid detection or apprehension. Amendment of the records could 
interfere with ongoing investigations and law enforcement activities 
and would impose an impossible administrative burden by requiring 
investigations to be continuously reinvestigated. In addition, 
permitting access and amendment to such information could disclose 
security-sensitive information that could be detrimental to homeland 
security.
    (c) From subsection (e)(1) (Relevancy and Necessity of 
Information) because in the course of investigations into potential 
violations of Federal law, the accuracy of information obtained or 
introduced occasionally may be unclear or the information may not be 
strictly relevant or necessary to a specific investigation. In the 
interests of effective law enforcement, it is appropriate to retain 
all information that may aid in establishing patterns of unlawful 
activity.
    (d) From subsection (e)(2) (Collection of Information from 
Individuals) because requiring that information be collected from 
the subject of an investigation would alert the subject to the 
nature or existence of an investigation, thereby interfering with 
the related investigation and law enforcement activities.
    (e) From subsection (e)(3) (Notice to Subjects) because 
providing such detailed information would impede law enforcement in 
that it could compromise investigations by: Revealing the existence 
of an otherwise confidential investigation and thereby provide an 
opportunity for the subject of an investigation to conceal evidence, 
alter patterns of behavior, or take other actions that could thwart 
investigative efforts; reveal the identity of witnesses in 
investigations, thereby providing an opportunity for the subjects of 
the investigations or others to harass, intimidate, or otherwise 
interfere with the collection of evidence or other information from 
such witnesses; or reveal the identity of confidential informants, 
which would negatively affect the informant's usefulness in any 
ongoing or future investigations and discourage members of the 
public from cooperating as confidential informants in any future 
investigations.
    (f) From subsections (e)(4)(G) and (H) (Agency Requirements), 
and (f) (Agency Rules) because portions of this system are exempt 
from the individual access provisions of subsection (d) for the 
reasons noted above, and therefore DHS is not required to establish 
requirements, rules, or procedures with respect to such access. 
Providing notice to individuals with respect to existence of records 
pertaining to them in the system of records or otherwise setting up 
procedures pursuant to which individuals may access and view records 
pertaining to themselves in the system would undermine investigative 
efforts and reveal the identities of witnesses, and potential 
witnesses, and confidential informants.
    (g) From subsection (e)(5) (Collection of Information) because 
in the collection of information for law enforcement purposes it is 
impossible to determine in advance what information is accurate, 
relevant, timely, and complete. Compliance with (e)(5) would 
preclude DHS agents from using their investigative training and 
exercise of good judgment to both conduct and report on 
investigations.
    (h) From subsection (e)(8) (Notice on Individuals) because 
compliance would interfere with DHS' ability to obtain, serve, and 
issue subpoenas, warrants, and other law enforcement mechanisms that 
may be filed under seal, and could result in disclosure of 
investigative techniques, procedures, and evidence.
    (i) From subsection (g) to the extent that the system is exempt 
from other specific subsections of the Privacy Act relating to 
individuals' rights to access and amend their records contained in 
the system. Therefore DHS is not required to establish rules or 
procedures pursuant to which individuals may seek a civil remedy for 
the agency's: Refusal to amend a record; refusal to comply with a 
request for access to records; failure to maintain accurate, 
relevant timely and complete records; or failure to otherwise comply 
with an individual's right to access or amend records.

    Dated: February 5, 2010.
Mary Ellen Callahan,
Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2010-4900 Filed 3-8-10; 8:45 am]
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