Department of Homeland Security January 9, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice describes a new effort designed to respond to and protect against a significant increase in the number of Haitian nationals crossing the border without authorization, as the U.S. Government continues to implement its broader, multi-pronged and regional strategy to address the challenges posed by irregular migration. Haitians who do not avail themselves of this process, and instead enter the United States without authorization between ports of entry (POEs), generally are subject to removal. As part of this effort, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is implementing a processmodeled on the successful Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and Process for Venezuelansfor certain Haitian nationals to lawfully enter the United States in a safe and orderly manner and be considered for a case-by-case determination of parole. To be eligible, individuals must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide financial support for the duration of the beneficiary's parole period, pass national security and public safety vetting, and fly at their own expense to an interior POE, rather than entering at a land POE. Individuals are ineligible for this process if they have been ordered removed from the United States within the prior five years; have entered unauthorized into the United States between POEs, Mexico, or Panama after the date of this notice's publication with an exception for individuals permitted a single instance of voluntary departure or withdrawal of their application for admission to still maintain their eligibility for this process; or are otherwise deemed not to merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) has authorized updates to the Parole Process for Venezuelans that was initiated in October 2022. The Venezuela process provides a safe and orderly pathway for certain individuals to seek authorization to travel to the United States to be considered for parole at an interior port of entry, contingent on the Government of Mexico (GOM) making an independent decision to accept the return or removal of Venezuelan nationals who bypass this new process and enter the United States without authorization. Pursuant to this notice, the Secretary has removed the limit of 24,000 total travel authorizations and replaced it with a monthly limit of 30,000 travel authorizations spread across this process and the separate and independent Parole Process for Cubans, Parole Process for Haitians, and Parole Process for Nicaraguans (as described in separate notices published concurrently in today's edition of the Federal Register). The Secretary also has updated the eligibility criteria for the Venezuela process by including an exception that will enable Venezuelans who cross without authorization into the United States at the Southwest Border (SWB) and are subsequently permitted a one-time option to voluntarily depart or voluntarily withdraw their application for admission to maintain eligibility to participate in this parole process. DHS believes that these changes are needed to ensure that the Venezuela process continues to deliver the already-realized benefits of reducing the number of Venezuelan nationals crossing our border without authorization and the surge in migration throughout the hemisphere and channels migrants into a safe and orderly process that enables them to enter the United States without making the dangerous journey to the SWB.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of South Carolina (FEMA-4677-DR), dated November 21, 2022, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the Seminole Tribe of Florida (FEMA-4675-DR), dated September 30, 2022, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (FEMA-4671-DR), dated September 21, 2022, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of an emergency for the State of New York (FEMA-3589-EM), dated November 20, 2022, and related determinations.

This temporary final rule would implement a special activities provision of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary safety zones for the safe splashdown and recovery of reentry vehicles launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from January 9, 2023 until January 30, 2023. These three temporary safety zones are located within the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile area of responsibility offshore of Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee, Florida. This rule would prohibit U.S. flagged vessels from entering any of the temporary safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile or a designated representative. Foreign-flagged vessels would be encouraged to remain outside the safety zones. This action is necessary to protect vessels and waterway users from the potential hazards created by reentry vehicle splashdowns and recovery operations in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is also necessary to provide for the safe recovery of reentry vehicles, and any personnel involved in reentry services, after the splashdown.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of West Virginia (FEMA-4679-DR), dated November 28, 2022, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for waters of Port Arthur Canal adjacent to Golden Pass Liquiefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facility in Sabine Pass, TX. This safety zone would be temporarily activated when high pressure testing of piping systems is occurring. This safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels from potential blast and fragmentation hazards associated with high pressure piping testing.