80 FR 79605 - Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 245 (December 22, 2015)

This document provides notice of the existence of a computer matching program between the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the California Department of Social Services, titled ``Verification Division DHS-USCIS/CA-DSS.''

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79605-79606]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32149]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2015-0084]


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of Re-established Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of the existence of a computer 
matching program between the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services and the California Department of 
Social Services, titled ``Verification Division DHS-USCIS/CA-DSS.''

DATES: The dates of the matching program are from January 27, 2016, and 
continuing for 18 months through July 26, 2017. The matching program 
may be extended for up to an additional 12 months, if certain 
conditions are met.

ADDRESSES: Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquires: 
Individuals wishing to provide comments or obtain additional 
information about this computer matching program, including a copy of 
the Computer Matching Agreement between the Department of Homeland 
Security/USCIS and CA-DSS, may contact, for general questions: Donald 
K. Hawkins, (202) 272-8030, Privacy Officer, U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security 20 Massachusetts 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529. For privacy questions, please 
contact: Karen L. Neuman, (202) 343-1717, Chief Privacy Officer, 
Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services provides this notice in accordance 
with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the 
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503) 
and the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Amendments of 1990 
(Pub. L. 101-508) (Privacy Act); Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Final Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of Public Law 100-503, the 
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, 54 FR 25818 (June 
19, 1989); and OMB Circular A-130, Appendix I, 65 FR 77677 (December 
12, 2000).



[[Page 79606]]

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES:
    The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (DHS-USCIS) is the source agency and the 
California Department of Social Services (CA-DSS) is the recipient 
agency.

AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING THE MATCHING PROGRAM:
    Section 121 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 
1986, Public Law 99-603, as amended by the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Public Law 104-
193, 110 Stat. 2168 (1996), requires DHS to establish a system for the 
verification of immigration status of alien applicants for, or 
recipients of, certain types of benefits as specified within IRCA, and 
to make this system available to state agencies that administer such 
benefits. Section 121(c) of IRCA amends Section 1137 of the Social 
Security Act and other sections of law that pertain to federal 
entitlement benefit programs. Section 121(c) requires state agencies 
administering these programs to use DHS-USCIS's verification system to 
make eligibility determinations in order to prevent the issuance of 
benefits to ineligible alien applicants. The VIS database is the DHS-
USCIS system available to the CA-DSS and other covered agencies for use 
in making these eligibility determinations.
    CA-DSS will access information contained in VIS for the purpose of 
confirming the immigration status of alien applicants for, or 
recipients of, benefits it administers in order to discharge its 
obligation to conduct such verifications pursuant to Section 1137 of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-7(a), et seq.). Verification 
of applicants for Food Stamps through DHS/USCIS is optional for CA-DSS 
under Section 840 of PWORA. CA-DSS has elected to use VIS for all alien 
applicants for Food Stamps for the length of this Agreement.

PURPOSE OF THE MATCHING AGREEMENT:
    This Computer Matching Agreement provides the CA-DSS with 
electronic access to immigration status information contained within 
DHS-USCIS's Verification Information System (VIS). CA-DSS uses the 
immigration status information to determine whether an applicant is 
eligible for benefits under Temporary Assistance to Needy Families 
(TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) programs 
administered by the CA-DSS.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS:
    DHS-USCIS will provide the following to CA-DSS: Records in the DHS-
USCIS VIS database containing information related to the status of 
aliens and other persons on whom DHS-USCIS has a record as an 
applicant, petitioner, or beneficiary.
    CA-DSS will provide the following to DHS-USCIS: CA-DSS records 
pertaining to alien and naturalized/derived United States citizen 
applicants for, or recipients of, entitlement benefit programs 
administered by the State.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS:
    CA-DSS will match the following records with DHS-USCIS records:

     Alien Registration Number (A-Number)
     I-94 Number
     Last Name
     First Name
     Middle Name
     Date of Birth
     Nationality
     Social Security number (SSN)
    DHS-USCIS will match the following records with CA-DSS records:
     A-Number
     I-94 Number
     Last Name
     First Name
     Middle Name
     Date of Birth
     Country of Birth (not nationality)
     SSN (if available)
     Date of Entry
     Immigration Status Data
     Sponsorship Information (sponsor's full name, SSN, and 
address)

SYSTEM OF RECORDS:
    DHS/USCIS-004 Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements 
Program System of Records Notice, 77 FR 47415 (August 8, 2012).

    Dated: December 16, 2015.
Karen L. Neuman
Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2015-32149 Filed 12-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-97-P