[Federal Register: March 31, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 61)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 16398]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr05-3]
[[Page 16398]]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Executive Office for Immigration Review
8 CFR Parts 1003 and 1208
[Docket No. EOIR 140I]
RIN 1125-AA44
Background and Security Investigation in Proceedings Before
Immigration Judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals
AGENCY: Executive Office for Immigration Review, Justice.
ACTION: Interim rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: On January 31, 2005, the United States Department of Justice,
Executive Office for Immigration Review, published an interim rule to
implement regulations covering Background and Security Investigations
in Proceedings Before Immigration Judges and the Board of Immigration
Appeals. The EOIR is extending the comment period for an additional 30-
day period.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 2, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written comment to MaryBeth Keller, General
Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), 5107 Leesburg
Pike, Suite 2600, Falls Church, Virginia 22041. To ensure proper
handling, please reference RIN No. 1125-AA44 or EOIR Docket No. 140I on
your correspondence. You may view an electronic version of this rule at
http://www.regulations.gov You may also comment via the Internet to EOIR at eoir.regs@usdoj.gov or by using the http://www.regulations.gov.
comment form for this regulations. When submitting comments
electronically, you must include the RIN No. 1125-AA44 or EOIR Docket
No. 140I in the subject box. Comments are available for public
inspection at the above address by calling (703) 305-0470 to arrange
for an appointment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MaryBeth Keller, General Counsel,
Executive Office for Immigration Review, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite
2600, Falls Church, Virginia 22041, telephone (703) 305-1041.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 2005, the Department of
Justice (Department), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR),
published an interim rule that amends regulations governing removal and
other proceedings before immigration judges and the Board of
Immigration Appeals when a respondent has applied for particular forms
of immigration relief allowing the alien to remain in the United States
(including, but not limited to asylum, adjustment of status to that of
a lawful permanent resident, cancellation of removal, and withholding
of removal), in order to ensure that the necessary identity, law
enforcement, and security investigations are promptly initiated and
have been completed by the Department of Homeland Security prior to the
granting of such relief. See 70 FR 4743.
It has come to the attention of the Department and EOIR that the
Internet options for submitting e-mail comments to the interim rule
during the original 60-day comment period originally provided with
publication of the interim rule did not consistently function.
Commenters seeking to submit e-mail comments via http://www.regulations.gov
received an automatic message instructing the
commenter to print out and submit written comments. Further, in several
cases, comments e-mailed directly to EOIR at eoir.regs@usdoj.gov
resulted in ``undeliverable'' return receipts being sent to the comment
sender. EOIR has now resolved this technical problem with its
regulations comment e-mail box.
Despite these difficulties with the electronic comment filing
options, the ability to submit written comments to EOIR throughout this
period of time via the United States mail was unaffected.
However, to ensure that the public has been provided an adequate
opportunity to comment on the interim rule, EOIR is extending the
public comment period by 30 days. The extension of the public comment
period does not affect the effective date of the interim rule, which
remains April 1, 2005. Commenters who submitted comments electronically
prior to April 1, 2005, are encouraged to resubmit comments
electronically or by mail.
0
Accordingly, EOIR is extending the comment period and will accept
public comments until May 2, 2005.
Dated: March 28, 2005.
Kevin D. Rooney,
Director, Executive Office for Immigration Review.
[FR Doc. 05-6428 Filed 3-29-05; 8:45 am]
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