Office of the Secretary September 30, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security proposes to establish a new system of records titled, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement DHS/ICE-012 Visa Security Program Records (VSPR). The purpose of the VSPR system is to manage, review, track, investigate, and document visa security reviews conducted by ICE agents pertaining to U.S. visa applicants and to document ICE visa recommendations to the U.S. State Department. VSPR contains information about individuals who have applied for U.S. visas and undergo a visa security review. VSPR also contains data maintained in the Office of International Affairs' Visa Security Program Tracking System (VSPTS-Net), a software application used by ICE to record, track, manage, and report visa security review activities. VSPTS-Net manages the workflow associated with visa security reviews by recording and tracking all visa applicant reviews, records checks, and follow-up investigative activities. Additionally, a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for VSPTS-Net will be posted on the Department's privacy Web site (see https://www.dhs.gov/privacy and follow the link to ``Privacy Impact Assessments.'') Due to urgent homeland security and law enforcement mission needs, VSPTS-Net is currently in operation. Recognizing that ICE is publishing a notice of system of records for an existing system, ICE will carefully consider public comments, apply appropriate revisions, and republish the VSPR notice of system of records within 180 days of receipt of comments. A proposed rulemaking is also published in this issue of the Federal Register in which the Department proposes to exempt portions of this system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil and administrative enforcement requirements.