81 FR 79512 - Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 219 (November 14, 2016)

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 Health Care Services, titled ``Verification Division DHS-USCIS/CA- DHCS.''

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79512-79513]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27144]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2016-0079]


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

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

ACTION: Notice of Recertification.

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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 
Health Care Services, titled ``Verification Division DHS-USCIS/CA-
DHCS.''

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 appendix I to OMB's Revision of Circular No. A-130 
(November 28, 2000), ``Transmittal Memorandum No. 4, Management of 
Federal Information Resources.''
    Participating Agencies: The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS-USCIS) is the source agency 
and the California Department of Health Care Services (CA-DHCS) is the 
recipient agency.
    Purpose of the Match: This Computer Matching Agreement allows DHS-
USCIS to provide CA-DHCS with electronic access to immigration status 
information contained within the DHS-USCIS Systematic Alien 
Verification for Entitlements (SAVE). The immigration status 
information will enable CA-DHCS to determine whether an applicant is 
eligible for benefits under Medicaid Programs administered by CA-DHCS.
    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

[[Page 79513]]

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 certain 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 
SAVE Program is the DHS-USCIS system available to the CA-DHCS and other 
covered agencies for use in making these eligibility determinations.
    The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 
1996 (IIRIRA), Public Law 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009 (1996) grants 
Federal, State, or local government agencies seeking to verify or 
ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual 
within the jurisdiction of the agency with the authority to request 
such information from DHS-USCIS for any purpose authorized by law.
    California Department of Health Care Services will access 
information contained in the SAVE Program for the purpose of confirming 
the immigration status of alien applicants for, or recipients of, 
benefits it administers to discharge its obligation to conduct such 
verifications pursuant to sec. 1137 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1320b-7(a) et seq.) and California Welfare and Institution Code 
secs. 11104.1, 14007.5 and 14011.2.
    Categories of Records and Individuals Covered: The SAVE Program 
uses the DHS-USCIS Verification Information System (VIS) database to 
verify immigration status; it contains information related to the 
status of aliens, naturalized citizens, and to the extent they have 
applied for Certificates of Citizenship, derived U.S. citizens, on whom 
DHS-USCIS has a record as an applicant, petitioner, sponsor, or 
beneficiary. See DHS/USCIS-004 Systematic Alien Verification for 
Entitlements (SAVE) Systems of Records Notice, 77 FR 47415 (August 8, 
2012).
    California Department of Health Care Services records pertaining to 
noncitizen Benefit Applicants for, or recipients of, Medicaid benefits 
administered by CA-DHCS. CA-DHCS will match the following records with 
DHS-USCIS records:

 Alien Registration 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-DHCS records:

 Alien Registration 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).
    Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program: The inclusive dates of the 
matching program are from December 8, 2016, and continuing for 18 
months through June 7, 2018. The matching program may be extended for 
up to an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain conditions are 
met.
    Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquires: Individuals 
wishing to comment on this matching program or obtain additional 
information about the program, including requesting a copy of the 
Computer Matching Agreement between DHS-USCIS and CA-DHCS, may contact:
    For general questions please contact: 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: Jonathan R. Cantor 202-343-
1717, Acting Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, Department of 
Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.

    Dated: November 1, 2016.
Jonathan R. Cantor,
Acting Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2016-27144 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-9L-P