[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[January 15, 2001]
[Pages 2920-2921]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Sections of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act
January 15, 2001

Memorandum for the Attorney General

Subject: Delegation of Authority Under Sections 212(f) and 215(a)(1) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 
215(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C. 
1182(f) and 1185(a)(1)), and in light of Proclamation 4865 of September 
29, 1981, I hereby delegate to the Attorney General the authority to:

       (a)   maintain custody, at any location she deems appropriate, 
            and conduct any screening she deems appropriate in her 
            unreviewable discretion, of any undocumented person she has 
            reason to believe is seeking to enter the United States and 
            who is encountered in a vessel interdicted on the high seas 
            through December 31, 2001; and,
       (b)   any other appropriate actions with respect to such aliens 
            permitted by law.

    This memorandum is not intended to create, and should not be 
construed to create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
legally enforceable by any party against the United States,

[[Page 2921]]

its agencies or instrumentalities, officers, employees, or any other 
person, or to require any procedures to determine whether a person is a 
refugee.
    You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the 
Federal Register.

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this memorandum, which was not received for publication in the Federal 
Register.