Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security/United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-007 Benefit Information System, System of Records

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to update and reissue a current DHS system of records titled, ``DHS/United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)-007 Benefit Information System'' system of records. DHS/USCIS collects, uses, and maintains the Benefit Information System records to administer immigrant or nonimmigrant benefit requests, ``hereinafter collectively referred to as ``benefit requests'' '' to process and adjudicate all benefit requests submitted for naturalization, lawful permanent residence, asylum, refugee status, and other immigrant and nonimmigrant benefits in accordance with U.S. immigration law. DHS/USCIS also uses the Benefit Information System to support national security by preventing individuals from fraudulently obtaining immigration benefits and by denying benefit requests submitted by individuals who pose national security or public safety threats. This system of records notice was previously published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2008, (73 FR 56596). DHS/USCIS is updating this system of records to: (1) Update the system location to include international offices and replicated copies on unclassified and classified networks; (2) update the category of individuals to include interpreters, preparers, physicians, and sponsors; (3) expand the categories of records to clarify the data elements that USCIS collects from benefit requestors, beneficiaries, and family members', benefit sponsors; representatives; preparers and interpreters; and physicians; (4) separate routine use (N) into two separate routine uses (i.e., (N), (O)) to provide clarity on information sharing with federal, state, tribal, or local government agencies and foreign government agencies for the repayment of loans; (5) update routine uses (W), (X), (Y), and (Z) to permit the sharing of information pursuant to a Computer Matching Agreement or other agreement, with the Department of Labor, with the public during the course of naturalization ceremonies, and with the Department of Treasury, respectively; (6) update retention schedules for each record type; (7) expand data elements used to retrieve records from the elements listed or a combination thereof; (8) update sources of records to include interpreters, preparers, and physicians; and (9) expand the system classification to provide notice that Benefit Information System records may be stored on both DHS unclassified and classified networks to allow for analysis and vetting consistent with existing DHS/USCIS authorities and purposes and this published notice. Additionally, this notice includes non-substantive changes to simplify the formatting and text of the previously published notice. This updated system will be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of record systems.