hearing to determine if the practitioner meets all of the requirements for reinstatement.

$3.108 Confidentiality.

(a) Complaints and preliminary inquiries. Except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, information concerning complaints or preliminary inquiries is confidential. A practitioner whose conduct is the subject of a complaint or preliminary inquiry, however, may waive confidentiality, except that the Office of the General Counsel of EOIR may decline to permit a waiver of confidentiality if it is determined that an ongoing preliminary inquiry may be substantially prejudiced by public disclosure before the filing of a Notice of Intent to Discipline.

(1) Disclosure of information for the purpose of protecting the public. The Office of the General Counsel of EOIR may disclose information concerning a complaint or preliminary inquiry for the protection of the public when the necessity for disclosing information outweighs the necessity for preserving confidentiality in circumstances including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) A practitioner has caused, or is likely to cause, harm to client(s), the public, or the administration of justice, such that the public or specific individuals should be advised of the nature of the allegations. If disclosure of information is made pursuant to this paragraph, the Office of the General Counsel of EOIR may define the scope of information disseminated and may limit the disclosure of information to specified individuals or entities;

(ii) A practitioner has committed criminal acts or is under investigation by law enforcement authorities;

(iii) A practitioner is under investigation by a disciplinary or regulatory authority, or has committed acts or made omissions that may reasonably result in investigation by such authorities;

(iv) A practitioner is the subject of multiple disciplinary complaints and the Office of the General Counsel of EOIR has determined not to pursue all of the complaints. The Office of the General Counsel of EOIR may inform complainants whose allegations have

not been pursued of the status of any other preliminary inquiries or the manner in which any other complaint(s) against the practitioner have been resolved.

(2) Disclosure of information for the purpose of conducting a preliminary inquiry. The Office of the General Counsel of EOIR, in the exercise of discretion, may disclose documents and information concerning complaints and preliminary inquiries to the following individuals or entities:

(i) To witnesses or potential witnesses in conjunction with a complaint or preliminary inquiry;

(ii) To other governmental agencies responsible for the enforcement of civil or criminal laws;

(iii) To agencies and other jurisdictions responsible for disciplinary or regulatory investigations and proceedings;

(iv) To the complainant or a lawful designee;

(v) To the practitioner who is the subject of the complaint or preliminary inquiry the practitioner's counsel of record.

or

(b) Resolutions reached prior to the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Discipline. Resolutions, such as warning letters, admonitions, and agreements in lieu of discipline, reached prior to the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Discipline, will remain confidential. However, such resolutions may become part of the public record if the practitioner becomes subject to a subsequent Notice of Intent to Discipline.

(c) Notices of Intent to Discipline and action subsequent thereto. Notices of Intent to Discipline and any action that takes place subsequent to their issuance, except for the imposition of private censures, may be disclosed to the public, except that private censures may become part of the public record if introduced as evidence of a prior record of discipline in any subsequent disciplinary proceeding. Settlement agreements reached after the issuance of a Notice of Intent to Discipline may be disclosed to the public upon final approval by the adjudicating official or the Board. Disciplinary hearings are open to the public, except as noted in §3.106(a)(1)(v).

§ 3.109 Discipline of government attorneys.

Complaints regarding the conduct or behavior of Department attorneys, Immigration Judges, or Board Members

shall be directed to the Office of Professional Responsibility, United States Department of Justice. If disciplinary action is warranted, it shall be administered pursuant to the Department's attorney discipline procedures.

Sec.

100.1

PART 100-STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION

Introduction.

The following sections describe the organization of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, including statements of delegations of final authority, indicate the established places at which, and methods whereby, the public may secure information, direct attention to the regulations relating to the general course and method by which its functions are channeled and determined, and to display OMB control numbers assigned to the information collection requirements of the Service. Part 103 of this chapter sets forth the procedures governing the availability of Service opinions, orders, and records.

[48 FR 37201, Aug. 17, 1983]

§ 100.2 Organization and functions.

(a) Office of the Commissioner. The Attorney General has delegated to the Commissioner, the principal officer of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, authority to administer and enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act and all other laws relating to immigration, naturalization, and nationality as prescribed and limited by 28 CFR 0.105.

(1) Office of the General Counsel. Headed by the General Counsel, the office provides legal advice to the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner, and staff; prepares legislative reports; assists in litigation; prepares briefs and

other legal memoranda when necessary; directs the activities of the regional counsel; oversees the professional activities of all Service attorneys assigned to field offices; and, makes recommendations on all personnel matters involving Service attorneys.

(2) Office of Congressional Relations. Headed by the Director of Congressional Relations, the office is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective liaison with the Congress, Department of Justice, and other agencies on such matters as bills, mark-ups, hearings, and Congressional inquiries.

(3) Office of Public Affairs. Headed by the Director of Public Affairs, the office is responsible for establishing and maintaining public affairs policy, serving as liaison with various constituent communities (intergovernmental, public, news organization, etc.) to communicate Service initiatives, such as naturalization and employer education, and producing public information products.

(4) Office of Internal Audit. Headed by the Director of Internal Audit, the office promotes economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the Service by managing the Service's systems for resolving alleged mismanagement and misconduct by Service employees; reviewing and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of Service operations and programs; collecting and analyzing data to identify patterns of deficiencies or other weaknesses warranting investigative or audit follow-up; making recommendations on disciplinary policies and procedures of the Service; overseeing Service systems to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in the workplace; and acting as the Service's liaison with outside audit/inspection agencies. These duties are executed in coordination with other components of the Service and other Department of Justice components.

(b) Office of the Deputy Commissioner. Headed by the Deputy Commissioner, the office is authorized to exercise all

power and authority of the Commissioner unless any such power or authority is required by law to be exercised by the Commissioner personally. The Deputy Commissioner advises and assists the Commissioner in formulating and implementing Service policies and programs, and provides supervision and direction to all organizational units of the Service. The Deputy Commissioner also performs such other duties as may be assigned from timeto-time by the Commissioner. In addition, the Deputy Commissioner supervises the four Executive Associate Commissioners for Programs, Field Operations, Policy and Planning, and Management.

(c) Office of the Executive Associate Commissioner for Programs—(1) General. (i) Headed by the Executive Associate Commissioner for Programs, the office is responsible for policy development and review as well as integration of the Service's enforcement and examinations programs. This office has primary responsibility for the planning, oversight, and advancement of programs engaged in interpretation of the immigration and nationality laws and the development of regulations to assist in activities, including:

(A) The granting of benefits and privileges to those qualified to receive them;

(B) Withholding of benefits from those ineligible;

(C) Control of the borders and prevention of illegal entry into the United States;

(D) Detection, apprehension, detention, and removal of illegal aliens; and

(E) Enforcement of employer sanctions and other provisions of immigration-related law.

(ii) In addition to overseeing enforcement and examination policy matters, the Office of Programs is also responsible for immigration records. The Executive Associate Commissioner for Programs promulgates policy, provides direction and supervises the activities of the Offices of Enforcement and Examinations.

(2) Office of Enforcement. Headed by the Associate Commissioner for Enforcement, the office is responsible for the planning, oversight, and advancement of enforcement programs engaged

(ii) Investigations Division; (iii) Detention and Deportation Division;

(iv) Intelligence Division; and (v) Asset Forfeiture Office.

(3) Office of Examinations. Headed by the Associate Commissioner for Examinations, the office is responsible for the planning, oversight, and advancement of examinations programs engaged in interpretation of the immigration and nationality laws, and the development of Service policies to assist examinations activities. The Office of Examinations is also responsible for all district and service center records and all records operations, except records policy. The Associate Commissioner for Examinations directly supervises the Headquarters:

(i) Adjudications and Nationality Division;

(ii) Inspections Division;

(iii) Service Center Operations Division;

(iv) Records Division; and

(v) Administrative Appeals Office.

(d) Office of the Executive Associate Commissioner for Field Operations—(1) General. (i) Headed by the Executive Associate Commissioner for Field Operations, the office is responsible for implementing policies related to the Service's field operations. This office has primary responsibility for oversight and coordination of all field operations relating to the administration of immigration law, including:

(A) The granting of benefits and privileges to those qualified to receive them;

(B) Withholding of benefits from those ineligible;

(C) Control of the borders and prevention of illegal entry into the United States;

(D) Detection, apprehension, detention, and removal of illegal aliens;

(E) Enforcement of employer sanctions and other provisions of immigration-related law; and

(F) Refugee processing, adjudication of relative applications/petitions filed by citizens and legal permanent residents, and overseas deterrence of alien smuggling and fraud activities.

(ii) The Executive Associate Commissioner for Field Operations provides direction to, and supervision of, the three Regional Directors (Eastern, Central, and Western), and the Director, International Affairs.

(2) Offices of the Regional Directors. (i) General. Headed by regional directors, these offices are responsible for directing all aspects of the Service's field operations within their assigned geographic areas of activity. The regional directors provide general guidance and supervision to:

(A) Service districts within their regions; and

(B) Border Patrol sectors within their regions.

(ii) Service districts. Headed by district directors, who may be assisted by deputy district directors, these offices are responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Act and all other laws relating to immigration and naturalization within their assigned geographic areas of activity, unless any such power and authority is either required to be exercised by higher authority or has been exclusively delegated to another immigration official or class of immigration officer. District directors are subject to the general supervision and direction of their respective regional director, except that district directors outside of the United States are subject to the general supervision and direction of the Director for International Affairs.

(iii) Border Patrol Sectors. Headed by chief patrol agents who may be assisted by deputy chief patrol agents, these offices are responsible for the enforcement of the Act and all other laws relating to immigration and naturalization within their assigned geographic areas of activity, unless any such power and authority is required to be exercised by higher authority or has been exclusively delegated to another immigration official or class of immigration officer. Chief patrol agents are subject to the general supervision and direction of their respective regional director.

(3) Office of International Affairs. Headed by a Director of International Affairs, the office is responsible for ensuring that the foreign affairs mission of the Service reflects a full partnership between the Service, the Executive Branch agencies, and the Congress, the administration of U.S. immigration law on foreign soil, and the U.S. domestic asylum program. The Director for International Affairs provides general guidance and supervision to:

(i) Foreign districts;

(ii) Asylum Division; and

(iii) Refugee and Parole Division.

(e) Office of the Executive Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning. Headed by the Executive Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning, the office is responsible for directing and coordinating Servicewide policy and planning activities, and conducting analysis of these as well as other issues which cross program lines or have national implications.

(f) Office of the Executive Associate Commissioner for Management-(1) General. Headed by the Executive Associate Commissioner for Management, the office is responsible for planning. developing, directing, coordinating, and reporting on Service management programs and activities. The Executive Associate Commissioner for Management promulgates Servicewide administrative policies and coordinates all financial, human resource, administrative, and information resources management functions. The Executive Associate Commissioner for Management provides direction to, and supervision of, the:

(i) Office of Security;

(ii) Office of Equal Employment Opportunity;

(iii) Office of Human Resources and Administration;

(iv) Office of Finance;

(v) Office of Information Resources Management;

(vi) Office of Files and Forms Management; and

(vii) Administrative Centers.

(2) Office of Security. Headed by the Director of Security, the office is responsible for all security programs of the Service, including those related to personnel, physical, information and documents, automated data processing,