[Federal Register: March 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 53)]
[Notices]               
[Page 13606]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19mr99-115]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1967-98]

 
Expansion of the Basic Pilot Program to the State of Nebraska

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In March 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
(Service) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) will begin 
offering the Basic Pilot to all employers in the state of Nebraska. The 
Basic Pilot is a free employment eligibility confirmation system 
operated by the Service and SSA to test a method of providing 
effective, nondiscriminatory employment eligibility verification. The 
Basic Pilot will allow participating employers to confirm the 
employment eligibility of their newly hired employees and help maintain 
a stable, legal work force. The Basic Pilot is currently being offered 
to all employers in the states of California, Florida, Illinois, New 
York, and Texas. This notice is to advise employers in the state of 
Nebraska that they may now elect to participate in the Basic Pilot. 
Nebraska has been chosen because the Service is conducting Operation 
Vanguard, an initiative for gaining and maintaining a legal work force 
in Nebraska, beginning with the meat packing/processing industry.
    The Service published a notice in the Federal Register on September 
15, 1997, at 62 FR 48309 describing pilot programs that are required by 
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
(IIRIRA). That notice provided requirements and guidance to employers 
that might be interested in volunteering to participate in one or more 
of three pilot programs being conducted by the Service and SSA. The 
pilots include: (1) The Basic Pilot; (2) the Citizen Attestation Pilot; 
and (3) the Machine-Readable Document Pilot.

DATES: There is no deadline for volunteering to participate in the 
Basic Pilot Program, but interested employers should contact the 
Service as soon as possible to maximize their opportunity to 
participate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John E. Nahan, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service, SAVE Program, 425 I Street, NW., ULLICO 
Building, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20536, Telephone (202) 514-2317.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

What Is the Basic Pilot Program?

    The Basic Pilot is a free employment eligibility confirmation 
system operated by the Service and SSA to test a method of providing 
effective, nondiscriminatory employment eligibility verification. The 
Basic Pilot involves electronic verification checks of the SSA and INS 
databases, using an automated system to verify the employment 
authorization of all newly hired employees by using Social Security 
Numbers (SSNs) and alien registration numbers. Equipment needed for 
participation in this pilot is a personal computer, 486 or higher 
windows platform PC with a modem. The Basic Pilot started in November 
1997, and can be tested for up to 4 years.

Who May Participate in the Basic Pilot Program?

    The Basic Pilot program is being offered to all employers in the 
states of California, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, and Texas. 
Participation in the pilot is voluntary on the part of employers, 
except with regard to the Executive and Legislative Branches of the 
Federal Government and certain employers found to be in violation of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act in states where the pilot is being 
conducted.

How Does an Employer Sign up for Participation in the Basic Pilot 
Program?

    All employers must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 
with SSA and the Service. To obtain the MOU or to request additional 
information about the Basic Pilot, you may submit your request by 
writing to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I Street, 
NW, ULLICO Building, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20536, Attention: SAVE 
Program Branch, or you may fax your request to the SAVE Program at 
(202) 514-9981, or you may call the SAVE Program toll free at 1-888-
464-4218.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirement contained in the MOU will be 
resubmitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for reapproval 
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

    Dated: March 12, 1999.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 99-6664 Filed 3-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M