§1722 — Title 8 Aliens and Nationality | U.S. Code

Summary

Federal agencies must build one electronic system that brings together all Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) databases and connects with law enforcement and intelligence databases. The system (called the “Chimera system”) must give consular officers, immigration officials deciding admissibility or deportability, and certain law enforcement or intelligence officers quick access to relevant information, while following rules to limit access to sensitive intelligence. The President must work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and use the required technology standards. The system must handle different name formats, be searchable in a way that respects language differences, give good user support, use commercial technology when practical, and be improved over time. It must use linguistically sensitive name-matching algorithms that cover at least 4 high-priority languages chosen by the Secretary of State with other leaders. The top-priority language algorithm must be in place within 18 months after May 14, 2002, and one more language algorithm must be added each year for the next three years. The Secretary of State and Attorney General must set up help procedures for name or identity questions. The President must report progress six months after May 14, 2002. The Director of Central Intelligence has deadlines of 60 days and 120 days after May 14, 2002 for required reports and guidelines. Money needed to do this is authorized.

Title 8, §1722

Aliens and Nationality — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall fully integrate all databases and data systems maintained by the Service that process or contain information on aliens. The fully integrated data system shall be an interoperable component of the electronic data system described in paragraph (2).

(2)Upon the date of commencement of implementation of the plan required by section 1721(c) of this title, the President shall develop and implement an interoperable electronic data system to provide current and immediate access to information in databases of Federal law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community that is relevant to determine whether to issue a visa or to determine the admissibility or deportability of an alien (also known as the “Chimera system”).

(3)In the development and implementation of the data system under this subsection, the President shall consult with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and any such other agency as may be deemed appropriate.

(4)(A)The data system developed and implemented under this subsection, and the databases referred to in paragraph (2), shall utilize the technology standard established pursuant to section 1379 of this title.

(B)

(5)Subject to paragraph (6), information in the data system under this subsection shall be readily and easily accessible—

(A)to any consular officer responsible for the issuance of visas;

(B)to any Federal official responsible for determining an alien’s admissibility to or deportability from the United States; and

(C)to any Federal law enforcement or intelligence officer determined by regulation to be responsible for the investigation or identification of aliens.

(6)The President shall, in accordance with applicable Federal laws, establish procedures to restrict access to intelligence information in the data system under this subsection, and the databases referred to in paragraph (2), under circumstances in which such information is not to be disclosed directly to Government officials under paragraph (5).

(b)(1)The interoperable electronic data system required by subsection (a) shall—

(A)have the capacity to compensate for disparate name formats among the different databases referred to in subsection (a);

(B)be searchable on a linguistically sensitive basis;

(C)provide adequate user support;

(D)to the extent practicable, utilize commercially available technology; and

(E)be adjusted and improved, based upon experience with the databases and improvements in the underlying technologies and sciences, on a continuing basis.

(2)(A)To satisfy the requirement of paragraph (1)(B), the interoperable electronic database shall be searchable based on linguistically sensitive algorithms that—

(i)account for variations in name formats and transliterations, including varied spellings and varied separation or combination of name elements, within a particular language; and

(ii)incorporate advanced linguistic, mathematical, statistical, and anthropological research and methods.

(B)(i)Linguistically sensitive algorithms shall be developed and implemented for no fewer than 4 languages designated as high priorities by the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of Central Intelligence.

(ii)Of the 4 linguistically sensitive algorithms required to be developed and implemented under clause (i)—

(I)the highest priority language algorithms shall be implemented within 18 months after May 14, 2002; and

(II)an additional language algorithm shall be implemented each succeeding year for the next three years.

(3)The Secretary of State and the Attorney General shall jointly prescribe procedures to ensure that consular and immigration officers can, as required, obtain assistance in resolving identity and other questions that may arise about the names of aliens seeking visas or admission to the United States that may be subject to variations in format, transliteration, or other similar phenomenon.

(4)Six months after May 14, 2002, the President shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the progress in implementing each requirement of this section.

(5)(A)Not later than 60 days after May 14, 2002, the Director of Central Intelligence shall complete the survey and issue the report previously required by section 309(a) of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (50 U.S.C. 403–3 note).11 See References in Text note below.

(B)Not later than 120 days after May 14, 2002, the Director of Central Intelligence shall issue the guidelines and submit the copy of those guidelines previously required by section 309(b) of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998.

(6)There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 309 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), is section 309 of Pub. L. 105–107, title III, Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2253, which was set out as a note under former section 403–3 of Title 50, War and National Defense, and is now set out as a note under section 3024 of Title 50. Codification Section is comprised of section 202 of Pub. L. 107–173. Subsec. (a)(4)(B) of section 202 of Pub. L. 107–173 amended section 1379 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the intelligence community deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence. Reference to the Director of Central Intelligence or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Director’s capacity as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. See section 1081(a), (b) of Pub. L. 108–458, set out as a note under section 3001 of Title 50, War and National Defense. Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

§1722 Interoperable Law Enforcement and Intelligence Data System with Name-matching Capacity and Training

Summary

Title 8, §1722

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Transfer of Functions

Transfer of Functions

Citations & Metadata