The Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) is working with its interagency partners to allow certain
noncitizens from Venezuela and their qualifying immediate family
members who lack United States entry documents to submit
information through the newly developed CBP Advance Travel
Authorization (ATA) capability within the CBP One™ application as
part of the process to request an advance authorization to travel
to the United States to seek a discretionary grant of parole.
Implementation of ATA will require the collection of a facial
photograph via CBP One™ from those eligible noncitizens who
voluntarily elect to participate in the process. Participation will
be limited to those individuals who meet certain DHS established
criteria, including possession of a valid, unexpired passport, as
well as having an approved U.S.-based supporter.
DHS is requesting an
emergency information collection revision under 5 CFR 1320.13, with
the intention of carrying out all the regular requirements for
publication and review after implementation. These processes and
the related information collection changes are urgently needed to
make available additional lawful pathways as an alternative to
irregular migration to help relieve pressure at the Southwest
Border (SWB) by providing a mechanism for which to make
case-by-case decisions on granting parole based on urgent
humanitarian needs or significant public benefit. This approach is
consistent with the U.S. national interest and its foreign policy
priorities. DHS requests an emergency approval to expand the
existing ATA data collection to allow CBP to collect certain
biographic and biometric information from individuals from Ecuador
to request an advance authorization to travel to the United States
to seek a discretionary grant of parole under the FRP process. DHS
will soon be publishing an accompanying Federal Register notice to
announce and establish the FRP process for nationals of Ecuador to
support this effort. The agency cannot reasonably comply with the
normal clearance procedures under the PRA because delayed
implementation may further raise pressure on U.S. border operations
and the migration management conducted by our foreign partners, and
could jeopardize our relations with foreign partners. The FRP
processes represent one part of the United States’ ongoing efforts
to engage hemispheric partners to increase their efforts to
collaboratively manage irregular migration. The expansion of lawful
pathways for noncitizens to enter the United States is necessary to
ensure partners’ continued collaboration on migration issues,
including the ability of the United States to meet other
immigration-management priorities. After implementation of the
revised collection to expand the respondent group, CBP will undergo
the normal PRA revision process, beginning with a 60-day notice for
public comment as described at 5 CFR 1320.10, within 45 days of
approval. After publication of the Federal Register notice required
under the PRA, DHS will address comments and concerns as necessary
and submit the information collection to OMB for three-year
approval within the required timeframe.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.