[Federal Register: October 1, 2002
(Volume 67, Number 190)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 61474-61476]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01oc02-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Immigration and Naturalization Service
8 CFR Parts 103 and 214
[INS No. 1946-98; AG Order No. 2617-2002]
RIN 1115-AF29
Delegating the Secretary of Labor the Authority To Adjudicate
Certain Temporary Agricultural Worker (H-2A) Petitions
AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.
ACTION: Withdrawal of final rule.
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SUMMARY: On July 13, 2000, the Immigration and Naturalization
Service
(Service) published a final rule in the Federal Register, delegating
the adjudication of certain petitions for agricultural workers (H-2A)
to the United States Department of Labor (DOL). Subsequently, the
effective date for that final rule was delayed until October 1, 2002.
On November 8 and 16, 2001, the DOL held public briefings concerning
the delegations. Based on the public response at these briefings the
DOL has determined that the delegation of authority for adjudicating
H-
2A petitions would not benefit the public as initially contemplated.
In
consideration of DOL's actions and subsequent events, the delegation
of
authority does not appear to be appropriate at this time. Accordingly
the Attorney General is withdrawing the July 13, 2000, final rule
delegating authority to the DOL.
DATES: The final rule amending 8 CFR parts 103 and 214
published in the
Federal Register at 65 FR 43528 (July 13, 2000) and deferred at 65 FR
67616 (November 13, 2000) and 66 FR 49514 (September 28, 2001) is
withdrawn as of October 1, 2002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mari F. Johnson, Adjudications
Officer, Business and Trade Services Branch, Adjudications Division,
Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I Street NW., Room 3214,
Washington, DC 20536, telephone (202) 353-8177.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 61475]]
Purpose of Delegating Adjudication of Certain H-2A Petitions
to the DOL
In an attempt to streamline the processing of petitions
filed for
agricultural workers, the Department of Justice in consultation with
the DOL, decided that the Attorney General's authority to adjudicate
certain H-2A petitions should be delegated to the DOL. It was estimated
that the delegation of authority would shorten the processing time of
H-2A petitions by as much as 10 days.
Regulations Delegating H-2A Authority to DOL and Extensions
of the
Effective Date
On July 13, 2000, the Attorney General published a final
rule in
the Federal Register at 65 FR 43528-43534 delegating the authority to
adjudicate certain H-2A petitions for the temporary employment of
nonimmigrant aliens in agriculture in the United States to the DOL.
The
final rule, which amended 8 CFR parts 103 and 214, was to take effect
on November 13, 2000.
Also on July 13, 2000, the DOL published a final rule at 65 FR
43538 with an effective date of November 13, 2000, implementing the
above-mentioned delegation of authority from the Service to the DOL.
On November 13, 2000, the Service published a final rule at 65 FR
67616, and DOL published an interim final rule at 65 FR 67628, each
delaying the effective date of their respective July 13, 2000, H-2A
rules until October 1, 2001.
On September 28, 2001, the Service at 66 FR 49514 published a
subsequent final rule, and on September 27, 2001, DOL at 66 FR 49275
published another interim final rule with requests for comments,
further delaying the effective date of the H-2A final rule until
October 1, 2002. DOL also published a proposed rule at 66 FR 49329 on
September 27, 2001 in conjunction with its interim rule of the same
date announcing that it was holding two public briefings in order to
obtain additional comments concerning the delegation of authority.
Proposed Regulations Regarding Procedures for Processing
H-2A Petitions
On July 13, 2000, and concurrently with the H-2A final
delegation
of authority rule, the Service at 65 FR 43535 published a companion
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for public comment, proposing
among other things that all petition requests, extensions of stay, and
change of status petitions would be filed with DOL and that the current
Service petition fee would be collected by DOL as part of the combined
fee.
Concurrently with publication of the Service's proposed rule, the
DOL published at 65 FR 43545 a companion NPRM setting forth
implementation measures necessary for the successful implementation
of
the delegation of authority to adjudicate petitions.
On August 17, 2000, at 65 FR 50166, the Service reopened and
extended the comment period for the proposed rule. Also on August 17,
2000, at 65 FR 50170, the DOL reopened and extended the comment period
on its NPRM. This action was taken in order to obtain additional
information from the public relating to the delegation such as the
consolidation of forms and the appropriate fees as well as other
issues.
Events Necessitating the Withdrawal of the Final Rule
The DOL held two public briefings to obtain additional
information
regarding the delegation of authority. The briefings were held at
Washington, DC on November 8, 2001, and in Monterrey, California on
November 16, 2001. After considering the comments received from the
public at these two briefings, the DOL determined that the delegation
of authority would not be a benefit to the public as initially
contemplated. The attendees at these two briefings overwhelmingly
disapproved of the transfer of authority between the two agencies,
arguing that it would complicate the labor certification process rather
than streamline it. Further, the attendees at the briefings expressed
reservations about DOL's plans to consolidate the Service's Form I-129,
Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, with DOL's Form ETA-750A, Application
for Alien Labor Certification.
In addition, subsequent to the initial proposal to delegate
authority to DOL, the Service has changed its procedures and now
requires that security checks be performed prior to the adjudication
of
any type of application and petition. The Service is more suited to
perform these checks rather than the DOL.
Finally, the Administration has proposed that the nation's
immigration function be reorganized within the newly established
Department of Homeland Security. As a result, it does not appear that
the delegation is appropriate at this time.
In consideration of these factors, the final rule published on July
13, 2000, at 65 FR 43528-45534 is being withdrawn in this final rule.
In addition, in a document published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register, the Service is withdrawing the proposed rule that
was
published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2000, at 65 FR 43535.
The final rule published on July 13, 2000, can be withdrawn without
further notice and comment because the delegation of authority to
adjudicate petitions from the Attorney General to the Secretary of
Labor constitutes a rule of agency practice or procedure within the
meaning of section 5 U.S.C. 533(b)(A), and accordingly is exempt from
the Administrative Procedure Act's notice and comment procedures. These
procedural rules would not have made a substantive change in the rules,
but instead would have transferred an existing procedural function from
the one agency to another permitting employers to omit one step in the
process of importing foreign agricultural workers. This rule nullifies
that planned transfer, maintaining the status quo.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Attorney General, in accordance with the Regulatory
Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this regulation and, by approving
it, certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule is
administrative in nature and merely withdraws a final rule published
in
the Federal Register.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
This rule will not result in the expenditure by State,
local and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100
million or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or
uniquely effect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996
This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 251
of the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C.
804. This rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of
$100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment,
productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States based
companies to compete with foreign based companies in domestic and
export markets.
Executive Order 12866
This rule is considered by the Department of Justice,
to be a
[[Page 61476]]
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866, section
3(f), Regulatory Planning and Review. Accordingly, this regulation has
been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review.
Executive Order 13132
This rule will not have substantial direct effects on
the States,
on the relationship between the National Government and the States,
or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of
Executive Order 13132, it is determined that this rule does not have
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
federalism summary impact statement.
Executive Order 12988
This rule meets the applicable standards set forth in
sections 3(a)
and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, relating to Civil Justice Reform.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law
104-13, all
Departments are required to submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), for review and approval, any reporting requirements
inherent in a final rule. This rule does not impose any new reporting
or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
List of Subjects
8 CFR Part 103
Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations
(Government agencies), Freedom of information, Privacy, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Surety bonds.
8 CFR Part 214
Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens, Employment,
Foreign
officials, Health professions, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Students.
Accordingly, the final rule amending 8 CFR parts 103 and 214
published in the Federal Register at 65 FR 43528 (July 13, 2000) is
withdrawn.
Dated: September 27, 2002.
John Ashcroft,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 02-25031 Filed 9-27-02; 1:00 pm]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-P
(10/02/2002)
