Reference Citations

Public Law 99-603

SEC. 121. VERIFICATION OF IMMIGRATION STATUS OF ALIENS APPLYING FOR BENEFITS UNDER CERTAIN PROGRAMS.

(a) Requiring Immigration Status Verification.--

(1) Under afdc, medicaid, unemployment compensation, and food stamp programs.--Section 1137 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-7) is amended--

(A) in the matter in subsection (a) before paragraph (1), by inserting "which meets the requirements of subsection (d) and" after "income and eligibility verification system",

(B) in subsection (b), by striking out "income verification system" in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting in lieu thereof "income and eligibility verification system", and

(C) by adding at the end the following new subsections:

"(d) The requirements of this subsection, with respect to an income and eligibility verification system of a State, are as follows:

"(1)(A) The State shall require, as a condition of an individual's eligibility for benefits under any program listed in subsection (b), a declaration in writing by the individual (or, in the case of an individual who is a child, by another on the individual's behalf), under penalty of perjury, stating whether or not the individual is a citizen or national of the United States, and, if that individual is not a citizen or national of the United States, that the individual is in a satisfactory immigration status.

"(B) In this subsection--

"(i) in the case of the program described in subsection (b)(1), any reference to an individual's eligibility for benefits under the program shall be considered a reference to the individual's being considered a dependent child or to the individual's being treated as a caretaker relative or other person whose needs are to be taken into account in making the determination under section 402(a)(7),

"(ii) in the case of the program described in subsection (b)(4)--

"(I) any reference to the State shall be considered a reference to the State agency, and

"(II) any reference to an individual's eligibility for benefits under the program shall be considered a reference to the individual's eligibility to participate in the program as a member of a household, and

"(III) the term 'satisfactory immigration status' means an immigration status which does not make the individual ineligible for benefits under the applicable program.

"(2) If such an individual is not a citizen or national of the United States, there must be presented either--

"(A) alien registration documentation or other proof of immigration registration from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that contains the individual's alien admission number or alien file number (or numbers if the individual has more than one number), or

"(B) such other documents as the State determines constitutes reasonable evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status.

"(3) If the documentation described in paragraph (2)(A) is presented, the State shall utilize the individual's alien file or alien admission number to verify with the Immigration and Naturalization Service the individual's immigration status through an automated or other system (designated by the Service for use with States) that--

"(A) utilizes the individual's name, file number, admission number, or other means permitting efficient verification, and

"(B) protects the individual's privacy to the maximum degree possible.

"(4) In the case of such an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, if, at the time of application for benefits, the statement described in paragraph (1) is submitted but the documentation required under paragraph (2) is not presented or if the documentation required under paragraph (2)(A) is presented but such documentation is not verified under paragraph (3)--

"(A) the State--

"(i) shall provide a reasonable opportunity to submit to the State evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status, and

"(ii) may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual's eligibility for benefits under the program on the basis of the individual's immigration status until such a reasonable opportunity has been provided; and

"(B) if there are submitted documents which the State determines constitutes reasonable evidence indicating such status--

"(i) the State shall transmit to the Immigration and Naturalization Service photostatic or other similar copies of such documents for official verification,

"(ii) pending such verification, the State may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual's eligibility for benefits under the program on the basis of the individual's immigration status, and

"(iii) the State shall not be liable for the consequences of any action, delay, or failure of the Service to conduct such verification.

"(5) If the State determines, after complying with the requirements of paragraph (4), that such an individual is not in a satisfactory immigration status under the applicable program--

"(A) the State shall deny or terminate the individual's eligibility for benefits under the program, and

"(B) the applicable fair hearing process shall be made available with respect to the individual.

"(e) Each Federal agency responsible for administration of a program described in subsection (b) shall not take any compliance, disallowance, penalty, or other regulatory action against a State with respect to any error in the State's determination to make an individual eligible for benefits based on citizenship or immigration status--

"(1) if the State has provided such eligibility based on a verification of satisfactory immigration status by the Immigration and Naturalization Service,

"(2) because the State, under subsection (d)(4)(A)(ii), was required to provide a reasonable opportunity to submit documentation,

"(3) because the State, under subsection (d)(4)(B)(ii), was required to wait for the response of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the State's request for official verification of the immigration status of the individual, or

"(4) because of a fair hearing process described in subsection (d)(5)(B).".

(2) Under housing assistance programs.--Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 1436a) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

"(d) The following conditions apply with respect to financial assistance being provided for the benefit of an individual:

"(1)(A) There must be a declaration in writing by the individual (or, in the case of an individual who is a child, by another on the individual's behalf), under penalty of perjury, stating whether or not the individual is a citizen or national of the United States, and, if that individual is not a citizen or national of the United States, that the individual is in a satisfactory immigration status.

"(B) In this subsection, the term 'satisfactory immigration status' means an immigration status which does not make the individual ineligible for financial assistance.

"(2) If such an individual is not a citizen or national of the United States, there must be presented either--

"(A) alien registration documentation or other proof of immigration registration from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that contains the individual's alien admission number or alien file number (or numbers if the individual has more than one number), or

"(B) such other documents as the Secretary determines constitutes reasonable evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status.

"(3) If the documentation described in paragraph (2)(A) is presented, the Secretary shall utilize the individual's alien file or alien admission number to verify with the Immigration and Naturalization Service the individual's immigration status through an automated or other system (designated by the Service for use with States) that--

"(A) utilizes the individual's name, file number, admission number, or other means permitting efficient verification, and

"(B) protects the individual's privacy to the maximum degree possible.

"(4) In the case of such an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, if, at the time of application for financial assistance, the statement described in paragraph (1) is submitted but the documentation required under paragraph (2) is not presented or if the documentation required under paragraph (2)(A) is presented but such documentation is not verified under paragraph (3)--

"(A) the Secretary--

"(i) shall provide a reasonable opportunity to submit to the Secretary evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status, and

"(ii) may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual's eligibility for financial assistance on the basis of the individual's immigration status until such a reasonable opportunity has been provided; and

"(B) if there are submitted documents which the Secretary determines constitutes reasonable evidence indicating such status--

"(i) the Secretary shall transmit to the Immigration and Naturalization Service photostatic or other similar copies of such documents for official verification,

"(ii) pending such verification, the Secretary may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual's eligibility for financial assistance on the basis of the individual's immigration status, and

"(iii) the Secretary shall not be liable for the consequences of any action, delay, or failure of the Service to conduct such verification.

"(5) If the Secretary determines, after complying with the requirements of paragraph (4), that such an individual is not in a satisfactory immigration status--

"(A) the Secretary shall deny or terminate the individual's eligibility for financial assistance, and

"(B) the applicable fair hearing process shall be made available with respect to the individual.

In this subsection and subsection (e), the term 'Secretary' refers to the Secretary and to a public housing authority or other entity which makes financial assistance available.

"(e) The Secretary shall not take any compliance, disallowance, penalty, or other regulatory action against an entity with respect to any error in the entity's determination to make an individual eligible for financial assistance based on citizenship or immigration status--

"(1) if the entity has provided such eligibility based on a verification of satisfactory immigration status by the Immigration and Naturalization Service,

"(2) because the entity, under subsection (d)(4)(A)(ii), was required to provide a reasonable opportunity to submit documentation,

"(3) because the entity, under subsection (d)(4)(B)(ii), was required to wait for the response of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the entity's request for official verification of the immigration status of the individual, or

"(4) because of a fair hearing process described in subsection (d)(5)(B).".

(3) Under title iv educational assistance.--Section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

"(c) The following conditions apply with respect to an individual's receipt of any grant, loan, or work assistance under this title as a student at an institution of higher education:

"(1)(A) There must be a declaration in writing to the institution by the student, under penalty of perjury, stating whether or not the student is a citizen or national of the United States, and, if the student is not a citizen or national of the United States, that the individual is in a satisfactory immigration status.

"(B) In this subsection, the term 'satisfactory immigration status' means an immigration status which does not make the student ineligible for a grant, loan, or work assistance under this title.

"(2) If the student is not a citizen or national of the United States, there must be presented to the institution either--

"(A) alien registration documentation or other proof of immigration registration from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that contains the individual's alien admission number or alien file number (or numbers if the individual has more than one number), or

"(B) such other documents as the institution determines (in accordance with guidelines of the Secretary) constitutes reasonable evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status.

"(3) If the documentation described in paragraph (2)(A) is presented, the institution shall utilize the individual's alien file or alien admission number to verify with the Immigration and Naturalization Service the individual's immigration status through an automated or other system (designated by the Service for use with institutions) that--

"(A) utilizes the individual's name, file number, admission number, or other means permitting efficient verification, and

"(B) protects the individual's privacy to the maximum degree possible.

"(4) In the case of such an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, if the statement described in paragraph (1) is submitted but the documentation required under paragraph (2) is not presented or if the documentation required under paragraph (2)(A) is presented but such documentation is not verified under paragraph (3)--

"(A) the institution--

"(i) shall provide a reasonable opportunity to submit to the institution evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status, and

"(ii) may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual's eligibility for the grant, loan, or work assistance on the basis of the individual's immigration status until such a reasonable opportunity has been provided; and

"(B) if there are submitted documents which the institution determines constitutes reasonable evidence indicating such status--

"(i) the institution shall transmit to the Immigration and Naturalization Service photostatic or other similar copies of such documents for official verification,

"(ii) pending such verification, the institution may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual's eligibility for the grant, loan, or work assistance on the basis of the individual's immigration status, and

"(iii) the institution shall not be liable for the consequences of any action, delay, or failure of the Service to conduct such verification.

"(5) If the institution determines, after complying with the requirements of paragraph (4), that such an individual is not in a satisfactory immigration status--

"(A) the institution shall deny or terminate the individual's eligibility for such grant, loan, or work assistance, and

"(B) the fair hearing process (which includes, at a minimum, the requirements of paragraph (6)) shall be made available with respect to the individual.

"(6) The minimal requirements of this paragraph for a fair hearing process are as follows:

"(A) The institution provides the individual concerned with written notice of the determination described in paragraph (5) and of the opportunity for a hearing respecting the determination.

"(B) Upon timely request by the individual, the institution provides a hearing before an official of the institution at which the individual can produce evidence of a satisfactory immigration status.

"(C) Not later than 45 days after the date of an individual's request for a hearing, the official will notify the individual in writing of the official's decision on the appeal of the determination.

"(d) The Secretary shall not take any compliance, disallowance, penalty, or other regulatory action against an institution of higher education with respect to any error in the institution's determination to make a student eligible for a grant, loan, or work assistance based on citizenship or immigration status--

"(1) if the institution has provided such eligibility based on a verification of satisfactory immigration status by the Immigration and Naturalization Service,

"(2) because the institution, under subsection (c)(4)(A)(ii), was required to provide a reasonable opportunity to submit documentation,

"(3) because the institution, under subsection (c)(4)(B)(ii), was required to wait for the response of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the institution's request for official verification of the immigration status of the student, or

"(4) because of a fair hearing process described in subsection (c)(5)(B).

"(e) Notwithstanding subsection (c), if--

"(1) a guaranty is made under this title for a loan made with respect to an individual,

"(2) at the time the guaranty is entered into, the provisions of subsection (c) had been complied with,

"(3) amounts are paid under the loan subject to such guaranty, and

"(4) there is a subsequent determination that, because of an unsatisfactory immigration status, the individual is not eligible for the loan,the official of the institution making the determination shall notify and instruct the entity making the loan to cease further payments under the loan, but such guaranty shall not be voided or otherwise nullified with respect to such payments made before the date of the entity receives the notice.".

(b) Providing 100 Percent Reimbursement for Costs of Implementation and Operation.--

(1) Under afdc program.--Section 403(a)(3) of the Social Security Act is amended by inserting before subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

"(A) 100 percent of so much of such expenditures as are for the costs of the implementation and operation of the immigration status verification system described in section 1137(d),".

(2) Under medicaid program.--Section 1903(a) of such Act is amended by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:

"(4) an amount equal to 100 percent of the sums expended during the quarter which are attributable to the costs of the implementation and operation of the immigration status verification system described in section 1137(d); plus".

(3) Under unemployment compensation program.--The first sentence of section 302(a) of such Act is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ", including 100 percent of so much of the reasonable expenditures of the State as are attributable to the costs of the implementation and operation of the immigration status verification system described in section 1137(d)".

(4) Under certain territorial assistance programs.--Sections 3(a)(4), 1003(a)(3), 1403(a)(3), and 1603(a)(4) of the Social Security Act (as in effect without regard to section 301 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972) are each amended by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C) and inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph:

"(B) 100 percent of so much of such expenditures as are for the costs of the implementation and operation of the immigration status verification system described in section 1137(d); plus".

(5) Under the food stamp program.--Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

"(h) The Secretary is authorized to pay to each State agency an amount equal to 100 per centum of the costs incurred by the State agency in implementing and operating the immigration status verification system described in section 1137(d) of the Social Security Act.".

(6) Under housing assistance programs.--The United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

"Payment for Implementation of Immigration Status

Verification System

"Sec. 20. The Secretary is authorized to pay to each public housing authority an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs incurred by the authority in implementing and operating the immigration status verification system under section 214(c) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 with respect to financial assistance made available pursuant to this Act.".

(7) Under title iv educational assistance.--Section 489(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1096) is amended by adding at the end the following: "In addition, the Secretary shall provide for payment to each institution of higher education an amount equal to 100 percent of the costs incurred by the institution in implementing and operating the immigration status verification system under section 484(c).".

(c) Effective Dates.--

(1) Immigration and naturalization service establishing verification system by october 1, 1987.--The Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization shall implement a system for the verification of immigration status under paragraphs (3)and (4)(B)(i) of section 1137(d) of the Social Security Act (as amended by this section) so that the system is available to all the States by not later than October 1, 1987. Such system shall not be used by the Immigration and Naturalization Service for administrative (non-criminal) immigration enforcement purposes and shall be implemented in a manner that provides for verification of immigration status without regard to the sex, color, race, religion, or nationality of the individual involved.

(2) Higher matching effective in fiscal year 1988.--The amendments made by subsection (b) take effect on October 1, 1987.

(3) Use of verification system required in fiscal year 1989.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), the amendments made by subsection (a) take effect on October 1, 1988. States have until that date to begin complying with the requirements imposed by those amendments.

(4) Use of verification system not required for a program in certain cases.--

(A) Report to respective congressional committees.--With respect to each covered program (as defined in subparagraph (D)(i)), each appropriate Secretary shall examine and report to the appropriate Committees of the House of Representatives and of the senate, by not later than April 1, 1988, concerning whether (and the extent to which)--

(i) the application of the amendments made by subsection (a) to the program is cost-effective and otherwise appropriate, and

(ii) there should be a waiver of the application of such amendments under subparagraph (B).

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a covered program described in subclause (II), (V), (VI), or (VII) of subparagraph (D)(i) until after the date of receipt of such report with respect to the program.

(B) Waiver in certain cases.--If, with respect to a covered program, the appropriate Secretary determines, on the Secretary's own initiative or upon an application by an administering entity and based on such information as the Secretary deems persuasive (which may include the results of the report required under subsection (d)(1) and information contained in such an application), that--

(i) the appropriate Secretary or the administering entity has in effect an alternative system of immigration status verification which--

(I) is as effective and timely as the system otherwise required under the amendments made by subsection (a) with respect to the program, and

(II) provides for at least the hearing and appeals rights for beneficiaries that would be provided under the amendmen made by subsection (a), or

(ii) the costs of administration of the system otherwise required under such amendments exceed the estimated savings, such Secretary may waive the application of such amendments to the covered program to the extent (by State or other geographic area or otherwise) that such determinations apply.

(C) Basis for determination.--A determination under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be based upon the appropriate Secretary's estimate of--

(i) the number of aliens claiming benefits under the covered program in relation to the total number of claimants seeking benefits under the program,

(ii) any savings in benefit expenditures reasonably expected to result from implementation of the verification program, and

(iii) the labor and nonlabor costs of administration of the verification system,the degree to which the Immigration and Naturalization Service is capable of providing timely and accurate information to the administering entity in order to permit a reliable determination of immigration status, and such other factors as such Secretary deems relevant.

(D) Definitions.--In this paragraph:

(i) The term "covered program" means each of the following programs:

(I) The aid to families with dependent children program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act.

(II) The medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act.

(III) Any State program under a plan approved under title I, X, XIV, or XVI of the Social Security Act.

(IV) The unemployment compensation program under section 3304 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

(V) The food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977.

(VI) The programs of financial assistance for housing subject to section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980.

(VII) The program of grants, loans, and work assistance under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

(ii) The term "appropriate Secretary" means, with respect to the covered program described in--

(I) subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (i), the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

(II) clause (i)(IV), the Secretary of Labor;

(III) clause (i)(V), the Secretary of Agriculture;

(IV) clause (i)(VI), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and

(V) clause (i)(VII), the Secretary of Education.

(iii) The term "administering entity" means, with respect to the covered program described in--

(I) subclause (I), (II), (III), (IV), or (V) of clause (i), the State agency responsible for the administration of the program in a State;

(II) clause (i)(VI), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a public housing agency, or another entity that determines the eligibility of an individual for financial assistance; and

(III) clause (i)(VII), an institution of higher education involved.

(5) Funds authorized.--Such sums as may be necessary are authorized for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to carry out the purposes of this section.

(d) GAO Reports.--

(1) Report on current pilot projects.--The Comptroller General shall--

(A) examine current pilot projects relating to the System for Alien Verification of Eligibility (SAVE) operated by, or through cooperative agreements with, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and

(B) report, not later than October 1, 1987, to Congress and to the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service concerning the effectiveness of such projects and any problems with the implementation of such projects, particularly as they may apply to implementation of the system referred to in subsection (c)(1).

(2) Report on implementation of verification system.--The Comptroller General shall--

(A) monitor and analyze the implementation of such system,

(B) report to Congress and to the appropriate Secretaries described in subsection (c)(4)(D)(ii), by not later than April 1, 1989, on such implementation, and

(C) include in such report such recommendations for changes in the system as may be appropriate.

Public Law 104-208

SEC. 642. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE.

(a) IN GENERAL.-Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.

(b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.-Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict, a Federal, State, or local government entity from doing any of the following with respect to information regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual:

(1) Sending such information to, or requesting or receiving such information from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

(2) Maintaining such information.

(3) Exchanging such information with any other Federal, State, or local government entity.

(c) OBLIGATION TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES.-The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall respond to an inquiry by a Federal, State, or local government agency, seeking to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law, by providing the requested verification or status information.

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