System Notice for Deportable Alien Control System (DACS)
JUSTICE/INS-012
SYSTEM NAME:
Deportable Alien Control System (DACS)
SYSTEM LOCATION:
Headquarters, Regional and District offices, and other offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the United States as detailed in JUSTICE/INS-999.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
Aliens deported and alleged to be deportable by INS.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
The system is a computer data base that contains biographic information about deportable aliens such as name, date and country of birth; United States and foreign addresses; file number, charge, amount of bond, hearing date, case assignment, scheduling date, section(s) of law under which deportability/excludability/removability is alleged; data collected to support the INS position on deportability/ excludability/removability, including information on any violations of law and conviction information; date, place, and type of last entry into the United States; Attorney/representative's identification number; family data, and other case-related information.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
8 U.S.C. 1103, 1227, 1228, 1229, 1229a, and 1231.
PURPOSE (S):
The system provides INS with an automated database which assists in the deportation or detention of aliens in accordance with immigration and nationality laws. It also serves as a docket and control system by providing management with information concerning the status and/or disposition of deportable aliens.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM INCLUDING
CATEGORIES OF USERS AND PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:
Relevant information contained in this system of records may be disclosed as follows:
A. To clerks and judges of Federal courts exercising jurisdiction over the deportable aliens in determining grounds for deportation.
B. To other federal, state, and local government law enforcement and regulatory agencies and foreign governments, including the Department of Defense and all components thereof, the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Selective Service System, the United States Coast Guard, the United Nations, and INTERPOL, and individuals and organizations during the course of an investigation or the processing of a matter, or during a proceeding within the purview of the immigration and nationality laws to elicit information required by INS to carry out its functions and statutory mandates.
C. To the appropriate agency/organization/task force, regardless of whether it is federal, state, local, foreign, or tribal, charged with the enforcement (e.g., investigation and prosecution) of a law (criminal or civil), regulation, or treaty, of any record contained in this system of records which indicates either on its face, or in conjunction with other information, a violation or potential violation of that law, regulation, or treaty.
D. Where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of the law of another nation (whether civil or criminal), to the appropriate foreign government agency charged with enforcing or implementing such laws and to international organizations engaged in the collection and dissemination of intelligence concerning criminal activity.
E. To other Federal agencies for the purpose of conducting national intelligence and security investigations.
F. To a Member of Congress or staff acting on the Member's behalf when the Member or staff requests the information on behalf of and at the request of the individual who is the subject of the record.
G. To the General Services Administration and the National Archives and Records Administration in records management inspections conducted under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
H. To any Federal agency, where appropriate, to enable such agency to make determinations regarding the payment of Federal benefits to the record subject in accordance with that agency's statutory responsibilities.
I. To an actual or potential party or his or her attorney for the purpose of negotiation or discussion on such matters as settlement of the case or matter, or informal discovery proceedings.
J. In a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body before which INS or the Department of Justice (DOJ) is authorized to appear when any of the following is a party to the litigation or has an interest in the litigation and such records are determined by INS or DOJ to be arguably relevant to the litigation:
1. DOJ, or any DOJ component, or subdivision thereof;
2. Any DOJ employee in his or her official capacity;
3. Any DOJ employee in his or her individual capacity when the DOJ has agreed to represent the employee; and
4. The United States, where INS or the DOJ determines that the litigation is likely to affect it or any of its subdivisions.
K. To legal service providers who are authorized to represent individuals in removal proceedings with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, to assist individuals in INS custody acquire legal representation.
L. To contractors, grantees, experts, consultants, students, and others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other assignment for the Federal government, when necessary to accomplish an agency function related to this system of records.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING,
RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
These records are stored in a database on magnetic disks.
RETRIEVABILITY:
These records are retrieved by name and/or nationality, A-file number, or by alien's Bureau of Prisons number, when applicable.
SAFEGUARDS:
Most INS offices are located in buildings under security guard, and access to premises is by official identification. Access to terminals is limited to INS employees with user identification numbers. Access to records in this system is by restricted password and is further protected by secondary passwords.
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
The following INS proposal for retention and disposal is pending approval by NARA. Cases which have been closed for a year are archived and stored in the database for 75 years, then deleted. Daily population reports are retained for six months and then destroyed. Work Measurement Reports are destroyed three years after creation. Copies of forms used within this system of records are placed in the Alien File. Electronic copies of records (copies from electronic mail and word processing systems) which are produced and made part of the file can be deleted within 180 days after the recordkeeping copy has been produced.
SYSTEM MANAGER AND ADDRESS:
Assistant Commissioner
Detention and Deportation
Immigration and Naturalization Service
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536.
NOTIFICAITON PROCEDURES:
Address inquiries to the system manager identified above.
RECORDS ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Make all requests for access in writing to the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) Officer at the nearest INS office, or the INS office maintaining the desired records (if known) by using the list of Principal Offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service Appendix, JUSTICE/INS-999, published in the Federal Register. Clearly mark the envelope and letter "Privacy Act Request." Provide the A-file number and/or the full name, nationality, and date of birth, with a notarized signature of the individual who is the subject of the record, and a return address.
CONTESTING RECORDS PROCEDURES:
Direct all requests to contest or amend information in the record to the FOIA/PA Officer at one of the addresses identified above. State clearly and concisely the information being contested, the reason for contesting it, and the proposed amendment thereof. Clearly mark the envelope "Privacy Act Request." The record must be identified in the same manner as described for making a request for access.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Basic information is obtained from "The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Alien File (A-File) and Central Index System (CIS), JUSTICE/INS-001A." Information may also come from the alien, the alien's attorney/representative, INS official, other Federal, State, local, and foreign agencies and the courts.
SYSTEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:
None.