Federal Register: July 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 144)
DOCID: FR Doc E6-11996
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Homeland Security Department
CFR Citation: 6 CFR Part 5
Docket ID: [Docket No. DHS-2006-0035]
NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES
ACTION: Immigration:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Privacy Act of 1974: Implementation of Exemptions
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 28, 2006.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Department of Homeland Security is giving concurrent notice of a revised and updated system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the Automated Biometric Identification System. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of this system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.
SUMMARY:
Privacy Act; implementation,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is publishing a revision to existing Privacy Act systems of records known as Enforcement Operational Immigration Records/Automated Biometric Identification System (ENFORCE/IDENT) in today's edition of the Federal Register. This proposed rule would exempt certain records from the access and amendment provisions of law as permitted by the Privacy Act.
ENFORCE is the primary administrative case management system for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). IDENT is the primary repository of biometric 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 (including the immigration law); investigations, inquiries, and proceedings thereunder; and national security and intelligence activities. IDENT is a centralized and dynamic DHSwide biometric database that also contains limited biographic and encounter history information needed to place the biometric information in proper context. The information 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.
For business purposes these two systems were operated jointly. Now, as a part of operational and technical restructuring, these systems will be operated independentlyIDENT under the management of USVISIT and ENFORCE under the management of ICE. Consequently, the ENFORCE/ IDENT system notice is being split into two system notices: One for ENFORCE and one for IDENT. The Privacy Act notice for ENFORCE/IDENT was last published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2006 (71 FR 13987). In this notice of proposed rulemaking, DHS now is proposing to exempt IDENT, in part, from certain provisions of the Privacy Act.
The Privacy Act embodies fair information principles in a statutory framework governing the means by which the United States Government collects, maintains, uses, and disseminates personally identifiable information. 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 the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual. Individuals may request their own records that are maintained in a system of records in the possession or under the control of DHS by complying with DHS Privacy Act regulations, 6 CFR part 5.
The Privacy Act requires each agency to publish in the Federal Register a description of the type and character of each system of records that the agency maintains, and the routine uses that are contained in each system in order to make agency recordkeeping practices transparent, to notify individuals regarding the uses to which personally identifiable information is put, and to assist individuals in finding such files within the agency.
The Privacy Act allows Government agencies to exempt certain records from the access and amendment provisions. If an agency claims an exemption, however, it must issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to make clear to the public the reasons why a particular exemption is claimed.
DHS is claiming exemption from certain requirements of the Privacy
Act for IDENT. Some information in IDENT relates to official DHS
national security, immigration and border management, and law
enforcement activities. These exemptions are needed to protect
information relating to DHS activities from disclosure to subjects or
others related to these activities. Specifically, the exemptions are
required to preclude subjects of these activities from frustrating
these processes; to avoid disclosure of activity techniques; to protect
the identities and physical safety of confidential informants and of
immigration and border management and law enforcement personnel; to ensure DHS's ability to obtain
[[Page 42604]]
information from third parties and other sources; to protect the
privacy of third parties; and to safeguard classified information.
Disclosure of information to the subject of the inquiry could also permit the subject to avoid detection or apprehension.
The exemptions proposed here are standard law enforcement and
national security exemptions exercised by a large number of Federal law
enforcement and intelligence agencies. In appropriate circumstances,
where compliance would not appear to interfere with or adversely affect
the law enforcement purposes of this system and the overall law
enforcement process, the applicable exemptions may be waived. List of Subjects in 6 CFR Part 5
Privacy, Freedom of information.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, DHS proposes to amend Chapter I of Title 6, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows: PART 5DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS AND INFORMATION
1. The authority citation for part 5 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Pub. L. 107296, 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.
2. Amend Appendix C to part 5 by adding the following new paragraph 6:
Appendix CDHS Systems of Records Exempt From the Privacy Act * * * * *
6. The Department of Homeland Security Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) consists of electronic and paper records and will be used by DHS and its components. IDENT is the primary repository of biometric 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 (including the immigration law); investigations, inquiries, and proceedings thereunder; and national security and intelligence activities. IDENT is a centralized and dynamic DHSwide biometric database that also contains limited biographic and encounter history information needed to place the biometric information in proper context. The information 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.
Pursuant to exemptions 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2) of the Privacy Act,
portions of this system are exempt from 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)(2) through (5); and (g). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), this
system is exempt from the following provisions of the Privacy Act,
subject to the limitations set forth in those subsections: 5 U.S.C.
552a (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), and (e)(4)(H). Exemptions from
these particular subsections are justified, on a casebycase 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 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
securitysensitive 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 the existence of a confidential investigation or reveal the identity of witnesses or confidential informants.
(f) From subsections (e)(4)(G) and (H) (Agency Requirements), and
(f)(2 through 5) (Agency Rules) because portions of this system are
exempt from the individual access provisions of subsection (d) and
thereby would not require DHS to establish requirements or rules for records which are exempted from access.
(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.
Dated: July 16, 2006.
Maureen Cooney,
Acting Chief Privacy Officer.
[FR Doc. E611996 Filed 72606; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 441010P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Steve Yonkers, US-VISIT Privacy Officer, 245 Murray Lane, SW., Washington, DC 20538, by telephone (202) 2985200, or by facsimile (202) 2985201.