[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28867-28873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11722]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2013-0078]


Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security/U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement--014 Homeland Security 
Investigations Forensic Laboratory System of Records

AGENCY: Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of Privacy Act System of Records.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of 
Homeland Security proposes to establish a new Department of Homeland 
Security system of records titled, ``Department of Homeland Security/
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--014 Homeland Security 
Investigations Forensic Laboratory System of Records.'' This system of 
records allows the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement to collect and maintain records by the Homeland 
Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory (HSI-FL). The HSI-FL is a 
U.S. crime laboratory specializing in scientific authentication; 
forensic examination; research, analysis, and training related to 
travel and identity documents; latent and patent finger and palm 
prints; and audio and video files in support of law enforcement 
investigations and activities by DHS and other agencies. To facilitate 
forensic examinations and for use in forensic document training, 
research, and analysis, the HSI-FL maintains case files, a case 
management system, an electronic library of travel and identity 
documents (Imaged Documents and Exemplars Library), and a hard copy 
library referred to as the HSI-FL Library. Additionally, the Department 
of Homeland Security is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
elsewhere in the Federal Register to exempt this system of records from 
certain provisions of the Privacy Act. This newly established system 
will be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of 
record systems.

[[Page 28868]]


DATES: Submit comments on or before June 17, 2013. This new system will 
be effective June 17, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS-
2013-0078 by one of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-343-4010.
     Mail: Jonathan R. Cantor, Acting Chief Privacy Officer, 
Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, please visit http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions, please contact: 
Lyn Rahilly, Privacy Officer, (202-732-3300), U.S. Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement, 500 12th Street SW., Mail Stop 5004, Washington, 
DC 20536, email: [email protected]. For privacy questions, please 
contact: Jonathan R. Cantor, (202-343-1717), Acting Chief Privacy 
Officer, Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, 
DC 20528.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (ICE) proposes to establish a new DHS system of records 
titled, ``DHS/ICE-014--Homeland Security Investigations Forensic 
Laboratory System of Records.''
    The Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory (HSI-FL) 
is an accredited crime laboratory located within ICE's Office of 
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that provides a broad range of 
forensic, intelligence, and investigative support services for ICE, 
DHS, and many other U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies. Created 
in 1978 under the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service, the HSI-FL became part of DHS on March 1, 2003, 
as part of the federal government's response to the 9/11 attacks. The 
HSI-FL is the only U.S. crime laboratory specializing in scientific 
authentication; forensic examination; research, analysis, and training 
related to travel and identity documents; latent and patent finger and 
palm prints; and audio and video files in support of law enforcement 
investigations and activities by DHS and other agencies. To facilitate 
forensic examinations and for use in forensic document training, 
research, and analysis, the HSI-FL maintains case files, a case 
management system, an electronic library of travel and identity 
documents (Imaged Documents and Exemplars Library (IDEAL)), and a hard 
copy library referred to as the HSI-FL Library.
    As a crime laboratory specializing in the forensic examination and 
research of travel and identity documents, the HSI-FL attempts to 
determine the authenticity, authorship, and any actual or potential 
alterations of travel and identity documents. Examinations of such 
documents submitted by DHS and other U.S. and foreign law enforcement 
agencies and international organizations normally begin with a physical 
(naked eye, tactile) inspection and proceed to microscopic, 
instrumental, and comparative examinations, as necessary and 
appropriate. Depending on the document type, these examinations also 
may require the expert analyses of handwriting, hand printing, 
typewriting, printing processes, papers, inks, and stamp impressions.
    HSI-FL examinations are predominantly performed on documents used 
to establish identity or facilitate travel, such as passports, visas, 
identification cards, and border crossing cards, but can be performed 
on virtually any document, including envelopes, handwritten documents, 
letters, vital records, and typewritten documents. DHS and other 
federal, state, and international government agencies, or organizations 
such as the United Nations, may submit requests to HSI-FL for document 
authentication. In response, the HSI-FL may conduct an analysis and 
share the results of forensic examinations within DHS and externally 
with other government agencies and international organizations in the 
course of law enforcement investigations and for admission into 
evidence in judicial proceedings.
    In addition to the forensic examination of documents, the HSI-FL 
performs fingerprint analysis. The fingerprint analysis performed by 
HSI-FL may not be document-related. This analysis may include 
fingerprints collected from evidence during an investigation such as 
firearms, drug packaging, currency, periodicals, photo albums, CDs and 
computers. Fingerprint analysis will include both latent (invisible to 
the naked eye) and patent (visible to the naked eye) finger and palm 
prints.
    The HSI-FL also performs technical enhancements of audio and video 
files. The audio and video work performed by the HSI-FL is limited to 
enhancing files to improve their quality and clarifying detail to allow 
law enforcement agencies to better examine the files. For example, this 
could include removing background noise from an audio file or improving 
the clarity of an image in a video. The HSI-FL is not responsible for 
performing forensic examinations of the audio or video files but merely 
performs technical work to permit law enforcement agencies outside of 
the HSI-FL to conduct law enforcement investigations.

Laboratory Information Management System

    In order to track evidence and cases, the HSI-FL implemented the 
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) as their case 
management system. LIMS allows the HSI-FL to capture information about 
the individual submitting the request for analysis, identify the 
evidence submitted, track the evidence as it moves throughout the HSI-
FL for chain of custody purposes, capture case notes and results of 
examinations, store electronic images of evidence, and produce reports 
of findings. LIMS also captures other case-related activities such as 
descriptions of expert witness testimony provided by HSI-FL employees.
    The HSI-FL also uses LIMS to record and store operational (non-
forensic) requests for assistance, hours HSI-FL staff spend on training 
activities, and digital copies of training certificates of completion. 
In addition, LIMS generates recurring and ad hoc statistics reports in 
support of HSI-FL staff operations and management request.

Imaged Documents and Exemplars Library

    The IDEAL database and the HSI-FL Library contain two categories of 
records: (1) Travel and identity documents and (2) reference materials 
used to help in the forensic analysis of travel and identity documents. 
The HSI-FL maintains the documents and reference materials in both hard 
copy and electronic format for use in comparative forensic examination 
and fraudulent document training, research, and analysis. The hard 
copies are maintained in the HSI-FL Library while the electronic copies 
are stored in the IDEAL database. IDEAL contains electronic images and 
document characteristics for all documents and reference materials 
stored in the HSI-FL

[[Page 28869]]

Library and allows HSI-FL employees to access these electronic images 
and document characteristics from their own workstations. Further, 
IDEAL provides the inventory control of the hard copy material in the 
HSI-FL Library, which includes the support of ``checking out'' hard 
copy documents and reference materials in the HSI-FL Library by HSI-FL 
employees.
    IDEAL indexes and assigns to all documents added to the HSI-FL 
Library an IDEAL identification number (IDEAL ID Number) and bar code, 
thus providing a standard identification and tracking mechanism and 
permitting indexing. The IDEAL ID Number is system-generated and allows 
documents to be quickly located in IDEAL. The bar code number links the 
images maintained in IDEAL to hard copies maintained in the HSI-FL 
Library.
    The HSI-FL collects and maintains genuine, altered, and counterfeit 
travel and identity documents (hereafter, ``documents'') in hard copy 
format from international organizations, government agencies, and law 
enforcement organizations from across the United States and around the 
world to research methods of document production and authenticate 
questionable documents through comparative forensic examinations. These 
travel and identity documents include documents such as passports, 
identification cards, birth certificates, stamps, visas, and any other 
document that can be used to establish nationality or identity from any 
country including the United States.
    From these same sources, the HSI-FL also collects information that 
helps with the identification of potential counterfeit characteristics, 
potential fraud, security features, and other information valuable to 
forensic analysis (hereafter, ``reference materials''). HSI-FL 
employees also make use of reference materials issued by the United 
States and other nations that contain useful information such as 
descriptions of security features of travel and identity documents or 
information concerning attempts to counterfeit or alter such documents.
    Document characteristics including personally identifiable 
information (PII) are manually entered into IDEAL to catalogue, track, 
and facilitate searching for documents and reference materials. 
Depending on the particular document, the document characteristics 
entered into IDEAL may include the document type, document number 
(e.g., passport number, driver's license number, state identification 
number), country of origin, region, authenticity of the document, 
information regarding the location and availability of the hard copy 
document in the HSI-FL Library, and a short description of the 
document. Social Security Numbers are not directly entered into IDEAL, 
instead the serial number on the back of the document is entered into 
the system. In addition to manually entered information, the document 
is scanned into IDEAL capturing and storing additional information, 
including PII. The PII stored on the images is view-only and may not be 
searched or used in any other manner in IDEAL.
    The HSI-FL divides the documents maintained in the HSI-FL Library 
and electronically in IDEAL into five different categories: (1) Genuine 
standard documents; (2) verified documents; (3) unverified documents; 
(4) counterfeit documents; and (5) altered documents. The first 
category, genuine standard documents, is comprised of documents never 
used in circulation and officially submitted to the HSI-FL by a valid 
issuing authority or other officially recognized domestic or foreign 
agency. Valid issuing authorities produce genuine standard documents as 
samples of particular travel and identity documents (e.g., passports) 
and include all of the same characteristics and security features of 
that document. Genuine standard documents are usually issued under an 
obviously fictitious name, such as ``Happy Traveler,'' to ensure they 
are easily identified as samples. Genuine standard documents do not 
contain the PII of actual individuals; however, they may contain 
photographs of individuals who have consented for their images to be 
used and distributed on these sample documents. The HSI-FL uses genuine 
standard documents during forensic analysis to authenticate other 
travel and identity documents purporting to have been issued by the 
same issuing authority. This authentication is used to support law 
enforcement investigations in response to government agency inquiries 
from the United States and around the world and judicial proceedings.
    The remaining four categories of documents are provided to the HSI-
FL by the valid issuing authority of a domestic or foreign agency, or 
from other sources including international organizations; DHS; the U.S. 
Department of State (DOS); and other federal, state, and foreign 
government agencies and law enforcement organizations. These four 
categories of documents may be directly provided for inclusion in the 
HSI-FL Library or may be initially provided for other purposes such as 
forensic examination and then retained by the HSI-FL, with the 
submitting agency's permission, after the examination is complete. The 
HSI-FL determines whether to include specific documents in the HSI-FL 
Library based upon the HSI-FL Library's need for that document, 
particularly whether the HSI-FL Library currently has a document of 
that type already in the HSI-FL Library. These categories of documents 
may contain the PII of individuals. Verified documents are documents 
that the HSI-FL has found to conform to comparable genuine travel and 
identity documents. Unverified documents are documents that the HSI-FL 
has analyzed and has not conclusively determined are verified, 
counterfeit, or altered. Counterfeit documents are documents that the 
HSI-FL has determined through forensic analysis are not authentic 
documents issued by a foreign or domestic governmental issuing 
authority. Altered documents are documents that were originally 
authentic documents issued by a foreign or domestic governmental 
issuing authority that have been changed in an unauthorized manner.
    Certain designated users at the DOS have read-only access to IDEAL. 
This read-only access allows certain designated DOS employees to search 
and view travel and identity documents and reference materials. These 
documents and materials may contain the PII of actual individuals. This 
information is used by the DOS for their reference and in support of 
their mission. This use includes supporting the processing of petitions 
or applications for benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act, 
and other immigration and nationality laws including treaties and 
reciprocal agreements. It also includes when the DOS requires 
information to consider and/or provide an informed response to a 
request for information from a foreign, international, or 
intergovernmental agency, authority, or organization about an alien or 
an enforcement operation with transnational implications. Authorized 
users from the DOS are the only non-DHS users with direct access to 
IDEAL.
    Consistent with DHS' information sharing mission, information 
stored in the DHS/ICE-014 Homeland Security Investigations Forensic 
Laboratory System of Records may be shared with other DHS components 
that have a need to know the information to carry out their national 
security, law enforcement, immigration, intelligence, or other homeland 
security functions. In addition, information may be shared with 
appropriate federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, foreign, or 
international government agencies

[[Page 28870]]

consistent with the routine uses set forth in this system of records 
notice.
    Additionally, DHS is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to 
exempt this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy 
Act, elsewhere in the Federal Register. This newly established system 
will be included in DHS' inventory of record systems.

II. Privacy Act

    The Privacy Act embodies fair information practice principles in a 
statutory framework governing the means by which federal government 
agencies collect, maintain, use, and disseminate individuals' records. 
The Privacy Act applies to information that is maintained in a ``system 
of records.'' A ``system of records'' is a group of any records under 
the control of an agency from which information is retrieved by the 
name of an individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other 
identifying particular assigned to the individual. In the Privacy Act, 
an individual is defined to encompass U.S. citizens and lawful 
permanent residents. As a matter of policy, DHS extends administrative 
Privacy Act protections to all individuals when systems of records 
maintain information on U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and 
visitors.
    Below is the description of the DHS/ICE-014 Homeland Security 
Investigations Forensic Laboratory System of Records.
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), DHS has provided a report of 
this system of records to the Office of Management and Budget and to 
Congress.
System of Records
    Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement
(ICE)-014

System name:
    DHS/ICE-014 Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory 
(HSI-FL)

Security classification:
    Law enforcement sensitive.

System location:
    Records are maintained at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
Headquarters in Washington, DC and in field offices, and electronic 
records are maintained in LIMS, IDEAL, and other IT systems.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Categories of individuals covered by this system include:
    1. Individuals whose information is contained on United States or 
international travel and identity documents, such as driver's licenses, 
passports, and other forms of identification, that are maintained in 
the Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory (HSI-FL) 
Library;
    2. Individuals whose information is contained on United States or 
international travel and identity documents, such as driver's licenses, 
passports, and other forms of identification, that are provided to the 
HSI-FL for forensic examination during a criminal or administrative law 
enforcement investigation;
    3. Individuals who are the subjects of current or previous law 
enforcement investigations by other domestic or foreign agencies where 
the HSI-FL is providing support and assistance;
    4. Individuals who are the subjects of current or previous law 
enforcement investigations into violations of U.S. customs and 
immigration laws, as well as other laws and regulations within ICE's 
jurisdiction, including investigations led by other domestic or foreign 
agencies, where the HSI-FL is providing support and assistance; and
    5. Individuals whose image or voice may be captured on video or 
audio files where the HSI-FL is provided the file to perform technical 
enhancements of the file.

Categories of records in the system:
    Categories of records in this system include:
    1. Biographic, descriptive, historical and other identifying data, 
including: Names; photographs; fingerprint identification number; date 
and place of birth; passport and other travel document information; 
nationality; aliases; Alien Registration Number (A- Number); Social 
Security Number; other identification numbers, contact or location 
information (e.g., known or possible addresses, phone numbers); visa 
information; employment, educational, immigration, and criminal 
history; height, weight, eye color, hair color and other unique 
physical characteristics (e.g., scars and tattoos).
    2. Fingerprints or palm prints of individuals whose information is 
provided to the HSI-FL for forensic examination.
    3. Case-related data, including: Case number, record number, and 
other data describing an event involving alleged violations of criminal 
or immigration law (such as, location, date, time, event category 
(event categories describe broad categories of criminal law 
enforcement, such as immigration worksite enforcement, contraband 
smuggling, and human trafficking)); types of criminal or immigration 
law violations alleged; types of property involved; use of violence, 
weapons, or assault against DHS personnel or third parties; attempted 
escape; and other related information. ICE case management information, 
including: case category; case agent; date initiated; and date 
completed.
    4. Birth, marriage, education, employment, travel, and other 
information derived from affidavits, certificates, manifests, and other 
documents presented to or collected by ICE during immigration and law 
enforcement proceedings or activities. This data typically pertains to 
subjects, relatives, and witnesses.
    5. Data concerning personnel of other agencies that arrested, or 
assisted or participated in the arrest or investigation of, or are 
maintaining custody of an individual whose arrest record is contained 
in this system of records. This can include: Name; title; agency name; 
address; telephone number; and other information.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    8 U.S.C. 1103, 44 U.S.C. 3101, 18 U.S.C. 496, 18 U.S.C. 911, 18 
U.S.C. 1001, 18 U.S.C. 1028, 18 U.S.C. 1425, 18 U.S.C. 1426, 18 U.S.C. 
1427, 18 U.S.C. 1541, 18 U.S.C. 1543, and 18 U.S.C. 1546.

Purpose(s):
    The purposes of this system are to:
    1. Maintain records related to the scientific authentication, 
examination, research, and analysis of travel and identity documents, 
fingerprints, and palm prints in accordance with established laboratory 
policies and procedures, scientific principles, and accreditation 
standards.
    2. Maintain a library of travel and identity documents and 
associated reference materials for use in forensic examinations, 
investigations, training, and other activities.
    3. Support the forensic examinations on a full range of documents, 
including but not limited to, passports, visas, driver's licenses, 
identification cards, border crossing cards, handwritten documents, 
vital records, and typewritten documents. The analysis may include, but 
is not limited to, an examination of handwriting, hand printing, 
typewriting, printing processes, security features, papers, inks, and 
stamp impressions.
    4. Maintain records facilitating the preparation of written 
laboratory reports and delivery of expert witness testimony in both 
legal proceedings.
    5. Support the provision of training in fraudulent document 
detection, creation

[[Page 28871]]

of document intelligence alerts and reference guides, and provision of 
direct assistance to federal, state and local agencies, as well as 
foreign governments and commercial entities to combat document fraud.
    6. Provide assistance within ICE and to domestic and foreign 
agencies to support the identification and arrest of individuals (both 
citizens and non-citizens) who commit violations of law.
    7. To identify potential criminal activity, immigration violations, 
and threats to homeland security; to uphold and enforce the law; and to 
ensure public safety.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a portion of the records or 
information contained in this system may be disclosed outside DHS as a 
routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:
    A. To the Department of Justice (DOJ) (including U.S. Attorneys' 
Offices) or other federal agency conducting litigation or proceedings 
before any court, adjudicative or administrative body, when it is 
relevant or necessary to the litigation and one of the following is a 
party to the litigation or has an interest in such litigation:
    1. DHS or any component thereof;
    2. Any employee or former employee of DHS in his/her official 
capacity;
    3. Any employee or former employee of DHS in his/her individual 
capacity where DOJ or DHS has agreed to represent the employee; or
    4. The United States or any agency thereof.
    B. To a congressional office from the record of an individual in 
response to an inquiry from that congressional office made at the 
request of the individual to whom the record pertains.
    C. To the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) or 
General Services Administration pursuant to records management 
inspections being conducted under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 
2906.
    D. To an agency or organization for the purpose of performing audit 
or oversight operations as authorized by law, but only such information 
as is necessary and relevant to such audit or oversight function.
    E. To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when:
    1. DHS suspects or has confirmed that the security or 
confidentiality of information in the system of records has been 
compromised;
    2. DHS has determined that as a result of the suspected or 
confirmed compromise, there is a risk of identity theft or fraud, harm 
to economic or property interests, harm to an individual, or harm to 
the security or integrity of this system or other systems or programs 
(whether maintained by DHS or another agency or entity) that rely upon 
the compromised information; and
    3. The disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is 
reasonably necessary to assist in connection with DHS's efforts to 
respond to the suspected or confirmed compromise and prevent, minimize, 
or remedy such harm.
    F. To contractors and their agents, grantees, experts, consultants, 
and others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, 
cooperative agreement, or other assignment for DHS, when necessary to 
accomplish an agency function related to this system of records. 
Individuals provided information under this routine use are subject to 
the same Privacy Act requirements and limitations on disclosure as are 
applicable to DHS officers and employees.
    G. When a record, either on its face or in conjunction with other 
information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, which 
includes criminal, civil, or regulatory violations, and such disclosure 
is proper and consistent with the official duties of the person making 
the disclosure, a disclosure may be made to federal, state, local, 
tribal, territorial, international, or foreign law enforcement agencies 
or other appropriate authorities charged with investigating or 
prosecuting a violation or enforcing or implementing a law, rule, 
regulation, or order.
    H. To courts, magistrates, administrative tribunals, opposing 
counsel, parties, and witnesses, in the course of immigration, civil, 
or criminal proceedings (including discovery, presentation of evidence, 
and settlement negotiations) when DHS determines that such disclosure 
is relevant and necessary to the litigation and one of the following is 
party to the proceedings or has an interest in such proceeding:
    1. DHS or any component thereof;
    2. Any employee or former employee of DHS in his/her official 
capacity;
    3. Any employee or former employee of DHS in his/her individual 
capacity where the government has agreed to represent the employee; or
    4. The United States, where DHS determines that litigation is 
likely to affect DHS or any of its components.
    I. To federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, or foreign 
government agencies, as well as to other individuals and organizations 
during the course of an investigation by DHS or the processing of a 
matter under DHS's jurisdiction, or during a proceeding within the 
purview of the immigration and nationality laws, when DHS deems that 
such disclosure is necessary to carry out its functions and statutory 
mandates or to elicit information required by DHS to carry out its 
functions and statutory mandates.
    J. To federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government 
agencies seeking to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration 
status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any 
purpose authorized by law.
    K. To federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government 
agencies, or other entities or individuals, or through established 
liaison channels to selected foreign governments, in order to provide 
intelligence, counterintelligence, or other information for the 
purposes of national security, intelligence, counterintelligence, or 
antiterrorism activities authorized by U.S. law, Executive Order, or 
other applicable national security directive.
    L. To federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, or foreign 
government agencies or organizations, or international organizations, 
lawfully engaged in collecting law enforcement intelligence, whether 
civil or criminal, to enable these entities to carry out their law 
enforcement responsibilities, including the collection of law 
enforcement intelligence.
    M. To international, foreign, intergovernmental, and multinational 
government agencies, authorities, and organizations in accordance with 
law and formal or informal international arrangements.
    N. To federal and foreign government intelligence or 
counterterrorism agencies or components when DHS becomes aware of an 
indication of a threat or potential threat to national or international 
security, or when such disclosure is to support the conduct of national 
intelligence and security investigations or to assist in anti-terrorism 
efforts.
    O. To federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, or foreign 
government agencies or entities or multinational government agencies 
when DHS desires to exchange relevant data for the purpose of 
developing, testing, or implementing new software or technology whose 
purpose is related to this system of records.
    P. To federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, international, or 
foreign criminal, civil, or regulatory law enforcement authorities when 
the information is

[[Page 28872]]

necessary for collaboration, coordination and de-confliction of 
investigative matters, prosecutions, and/or other law enforcement 
actions to avoid duplicative or disruptive efforts and to ensure the 
safety of law enforcement officers who may be working on related law 
enforcement matters.
    Q. To the Department of State in the processing of petitions or 
applications for benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act, 
and all other immigration and nationality laws including treaties and 
reciprocal agreements; or when the Department of State requires 
information to consider and/or provide an informed response to a 
request for information from a foreign, international, or 
intergovernmental agency, authority, or organization about an alien or 
an enforcement operation with transnational implications.
    R. To the Department of State to provide read-only access of 
records maintained in the Imaged Documents and Exemplars Library to 
assist the Department of State with their validation of travel and 
identity documents.
    S. To federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, or foreign 
government agencies for purposes of completing and providing results of 
requested forensic examinations to the requesting agency.
    T. To the Department of Justice (including United States Attorneys' 
Offices) or other federal agency conducting litigation or in 
proceedings before any court, adjudicative or administrative body, when 
necessary to assist in the development of such agency's legal and/or 
policy position.
    U. To the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary or the U.S. House 
of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary when necessary to inform 
members of Congress about an alien who is being considered for private 
immigration relief.
    V. To federal, state, tribal, territorial, local, international, or 
foreign government agencies or entities for the purpose of consulting 
with that agency or entity: (1) To assist in making a determination 
regarding redress for an individual in connection with the operations 
of a DHS component or program; (2) to verify the identity of an 
individual seeking redress in connection with the operations of a DHS 
component or program; or (3) to verify the accuracy of information 
submitted by an individual who has requested such redress on behalf of 
another individual.
    W. To the news media and the public, with the approval of the Chief 
Privacy Officer in consultation with counsel, when there exists a 
legitimate public interest in the disclosure of the information or when 
disclosure is necessary to preserve confidence in the integrity of DHS 
or is necessary to demonstrate the accountability of DHS' officers, 
employees, or individuals covered by the system, except to the extent 
it is determined that release of the specific information in the 
context of a particular case would constitute an unwarranted invasion 
of personal privacy.

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:
    None.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Records in this system are stored electronically or on paper in 
secure facilities in a locked drawer behind a locked door. The records 
may be stored in hard copy and electronically on magnetic disc, tape, 
digital media, and CD-ROM.

Retrievability:
    Records may be retrieved by name, identification numbers including 
case or record number if applicable; other personal identification 
numbers including Alien Registration Number (A-Number), fingerprint 
identification number, and other personal identification numbers; and 
case related data and/or combination of other personal identifiers 
including, but not limited to, date of birth and nationality.

Safeguards:
    Records in this system are safeguarded in accordance with 
applicable rules and policies, including all applicable DHS automated 
systems security and access policies. Strict controls have been imposed 
to minimize the risk of compromising the information that is being 
stored. Access to the computer system containing the records in this 
system is limited to those individuals who have a need to know the 
information for the performance of their official duties and who have 
appropriate clearances or permissions.

Retention and disposal:
    After the forensic examination is completed, all case files shall 
be stored as closed case files onsite at HSI-FL for 6 years followed by 
10 years in offsite temporary storage for a total of 16 years. 
Exception: All war crimes and capital cases shall be held indefinitely 
onsite at the HSI-FL.

System Manager and address:
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security 
Investigations Forensic Laboratory, Unit Chief, 8000 West Park Drive, 
McLean, VA 22102-3105.

Notification procedure:
    The Secretary of Homeland Security has exempted this system from 
the notification, access, and amendment procedures of the Privacy Act 
because it is a law enforcement system. However, DHS/ICE will consider 
individual requests to determine whether or not information may be 
released. Thus, individuals seeking notification of and access to any 
record contained in this system of records, or seeking to contest its 
content, may submit a request in writing to ICE's FOIA Officer, whose 
contact information can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/foia under 
``Contacts.'' If an individual believes more than one component 
maintains Privacy Act records concerning him or her, the individual may 
submit the request to the Chief Privacy Officer and Chief Freedom of 
Information Act Officer, Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray 
Drive SW., Building 410, STOP-0655, Washington, DC 20528.
    When seeking records about yourself from this system of records or 
any other Departmental system of records, your request must conform 
with the Privacy Act regulations set forth in 6 CFR Part 5. You must 
first verify your identity, meaning that you must provide your full 
name, current address, and date and place of birth. You must sign your 
request, and your signature must either be notarized or submitted under 
28 U.S.C. 1746, a law that permits statements to be made under penalty 
of perjury as a substitute for notarization. While no specific form is 
required, you may obtain forms for this purpose from the Chief Privacy 
Officer and Chief Freedom of Information Act Officer, http://www.dhs.gov/foia or 1-866-431-0486. In addition, you should:
     Explain why you believe the Department would have 
information on you;
     Identify which component(s) of the Department you believe 
may have the information about you;
     Specify when you believe the records would have been 
created; and
     Provide any other information that will help the FOIA 
staff determine which DHS component agency may have responsive records.
    If your request is seeking records pertaining to another living 
individual, you must include a statement from that

[[Page 28873]]

individual certifying his/her agreement for you to access his/her 
records.
    Without the above information, the component(s) may not be able to 
conduct an effective search, and your request may be denied due to lack 
of specificity or lack of compliance with applicable regulations.

Record access procedures:
    See ``Notification procedure'' above.

Contesting record procedures:
    See ``Notification procedure'' above.

Record source categories:
    Records in the system are supplied by several sources. In general, 
information is obtained from federal, state, local, tribal, or foreign 
governments. More specifically, DHS/ICE-014 records are derived from 
the following sources: (a) other federal, state, local, tribal, or 
foreign governments and government information systems; and (b) 
evidence, contraband, and other seized material.

Exemptions claimed for the system:
    The Secretary of Homeland Security, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
552a(j)(2), has exempted this system from the following provisions of 
the Privacy Act 5 U.S.C. 552a(c)(3), (c)(4); (d); (e)(1), (e)(2), 
(e)(3), (e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H), (e)(4)(I), (e)(5), (e)(8), (f); and (g). 
Additionally, the Secretary of Homeland Security, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
552a(k)(2), has exempted this system from the following provisions of 
the Privacy Act: 5 U.S.C. 552a(c)(3); (d); (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), 
(e)(4)(H), (e)(4)(I); and (f). Where a record received from another 
system has been exempted in that source system under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(j)(2), DHS will claim the same exemptions for those records that 
are claimed for the original primary systems of records from which they 
originated and claims any additional exemptions in accordance with this 
rule.

    Dated: April 22, 2013.
Jonathan R. Cantor,
Acting Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2013-11722 Filed 5-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-28-P