[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39472-39473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19208]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1778-96; AG Order No. 2045-96]
[RIN 1115-AE26]
Extension of Designation of Somalia Under Temporary Protected
Status Program
AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice extends, until September 17, 1997, the Attorney
General's designation of Somalia under the Temporary Protected Status
(``TPS'') program provided for in section 244A of the Immigration and
Nationality Act, as amended (``the Act''). Accordingly, eligible aliens
who are nationals of Somalia (or who have no nationality and who last
habitually resided in Somalia) may re-register for Temporary Protected
Status and extension of employment authorization. This re-registration
is limited to persons who already have registered for the initial
period of TPS which ended on September 16, 1992.
EFFECTIVE DATES: This extension of designation is effective on
September 18, 1996, and will remain in effect until September 17, 1997.
The primary re-registration procedures become effective on August 19,
1996 and will remain in effect until September 17, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ronald Chirlin, Adjudications Officer, Immigration and Naturalization
Service, Room 3214, 425 I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20326, telephone
(202) 514-5014.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 244A of the Act, as amended by
section 302(a) of Public Law 101-649 and section 304(b) of Public Law
102-232 (8 U.S.C. 1254a), the Attorney General is authorized to grant
Temporary Protected Status in the United States to eligible aliens who
are nationals of a foreign state designated by the Attorney General, or
who have no
[[Page 39473]]
nationality and who last habitually resided in that state. The Attorney
General may designate a state upon finding that the state is
experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or certain
other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent nationals or
residents of the country from returning in safety.
Effective on September 16, 1991, the Attorney General designated
Somalia for Temporary Protected Status for a period of 12 months, 56 FR
46804. The Attorney General extended the designation of Somalia under
the TPS program for additional 12-month periods until September 17,
1996, 60 FR 39005.
This notice extends the designation of Somalia under the Temporary
Protected Status program for an additional 12 months, in accordance
with section 244A(b)(3) (A) and (C) of the Act. This notice also
describes the procedures that eligible aliens who are nationals of
Somalia (or who have no nationality and who last habitually resided in
Somalia) must follow in order to re-register for TPS.
In addition to timely re-registrations and late re-registrations
authorized by this notice's extension of Somalia's TPS destination,
late initial registrations are possible for some Somalis under 8 CFR
240.2(f)(2). Such late initial registrants must have been
``continuously physically present'' in the United States since
September 16, 1991, must have had a valid immigrant or non-immigrant
status during the original registration period, and must register no
later than 30 days from the expiration of such status.
An Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, must
always be filed as part of either a re-registration or as part of a
late initial registration together with the Application for Temporary
Protected Status, Form I-821. The appropriate filing fee must accompany
Form I-765 unless a properly documented fee waiver request is submitted
to the Immigration and Naturalization Service or the applicant does not
wish to obtain employment authorization. The Immigration and
Naturalization Service requires TPS registrants to submit Form I-765
for data-gathering purposes.
Notice of Extension of Designation of Somalia Under the Temporary
Protected Status Program
By the authority vested in me as Attorney General under section
244A of the immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, (8 U.S.C.
1254a), and pursuant to sections 244A(b) (3) (A) and (C) of the Act, I
have had consultations with appropriate agencies of the Government
concerning (a) the conditions in Somalia; and (b) whether permitting
nationals of Somalia, and aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Somalia, to remain temporarily in the United
States is contrary to the national interest of the United States. As as
result, I determine that the conditions for the original designation of
Temporary Protected Status for Somalia continue to be met. Accordingly,
it is ordered as follows:
(1) The designation of Somalia under section 244A(b) of the Act is
extended for an additional 12-month period from September 18, 1996, to
September 17, 1997.
(2) I estimate that there are approximately 350 nationals of
Somalia, and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided
in Somalia, who have been granted Temporary Protected Status and who
are eligible for re-registration.
(3) In order to maintain current registration for Temporary
Protected Status, a national of Somalia (or an alien having no
nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) who received a
grant of TPS during the initial period of designation from September
16, 1991, to September 16, 1992, must comply with the re-registration
requirements contained in 8 CFR 240.17, which are described in
pertinent part in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this notice.
(4) A national of Somalia (or an alien having no nationality who
last habitually resided in Somalia) who previously has been granted
TPS, must re-register by filing a new Application for Temporary
Protected Status, Form I-821, together with an Application for
Employment Authorization, Form I-765, within the 30-day period
beginning on August 19, 1996 in order to be eligible for Temporary
Protected Status during the period from September 18, 1996, until
September 17, 1997. Late re-registration applications will be allowed
pursuant to 8 CFR 240.17(c).
(5) There is no fee for Form I-821 filed as part of the re-
registration application. A Form I-765 must also be filed at the same
time. If the alien requests employment authorization for the extension
period, the fee prescribed in 8 CFR 103.7(b)(1), currently seventy
dollars ($70), will be charged for Form I-765. An alien who does not
request employment authorization must nonetheless file Form I-765
together with Form I-821, but in such cases no fee will be charged.
(6) Pursuant to section 244(b)(3)(A) of the Act, the Attorney
General will review, at least 60 days before September 17, 1997, the
designation of Somalia under the TPS program to determine whether the
conditions for designation continue to be met. Notice of that
determination, including the basis for the determination, will be
published in the Federal Register.
(7) Information concerning the TPS program for nationals of
Somalia, and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided
in Somalia, will be available at local immigration and Naturalization
Service offices upon publication of this notice.
Dated: July 23, 1996.
Janet Reno,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 96-19208 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
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