Rules and Regulations. Interim rule; extension of comment period
/register/2005/03/31/05-6428·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Agency: Executive Office for Immigration Review, Justice
Action: Interim rule; extension of comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 05-6428 · RIN 1125-AA44 · Docket No. EOIR 140I · 8 CFR 1003, 1208
Summary
On January 31, 2005, the United States Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, published an interim rule to implement regulations covering Background and Security Investigations in Proceedings Before Immigration Judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The EOIR is extending the comment period for an additional 30-day period.
Dates
Comments must be received on or before May 2, 2005.
Supplementary Information
On January 31, 2005, the Department of Justice (Department), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), published an interim rule that amends regulations governing removal and other proceedings before immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals when a respondent has applied for particular forms of immigration relief allowing the alien to remain in the United States (including, but not limited to asylum, adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident, cancellation of removal, and withholding of removal), in order to ensure that the necessary identity, law enforcement, and security investigations are promptly initiated and have been completed by the Department of Homeland Security prior to the granting of such relief. See 70 FR 4743. It has come to the attention of the Department and EOIR that the Internet options for submitting e-mail comments to the interim rule during the original 60-day comment period originally provided with publication of the interim rule did not consistently function. Commenters seeking to submit e-mail comments via received an automatic message instructing the commenter to print out and submit written comments. Further, in several cases, comments e-mailed directly to EOIR at resulted in “undeliverable” return receipts being sent to the comment sender. EOIR has now resolved this technical problem with its regulations comment e-mail box. Despite these difficulties with the electronic comment filing options, the ability to submit written comments to EOIR throughout this period of time via the United States mail was unaffected. However, to ensure that the public has been provided an adequate opportunity to comment on the interim rule, EOIR is extending the public comment period by 30 days. The extension of the public comment period does not affect the effective date of the interim rule, which remains April 1, 2005. Commenters who submitted comments electronically prior to April 1, 2005, are encouraged to resubmit comments electronically or by mail. Accordingly, EOIR is extending the comment period and will accept public comments until May 2, 2005. Dated: March 28, 2005. Kevin D. Rooney, Director, Executive Office for Immigration Review. [FR Doc. 05-6428 Filed 3-29-05; 8:45 am]