110 STAT. 3009-707 PUBLIC LAW 104-208—SEPT. 30, 1996 (A) IN GENERAL. —Not later than 6 months after the submission of the report required by subsection (f), the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Education, shall commence expansion of the program to cover the nationals of all countries. (B) DEADLINE.— Such expansion shall be completed not later than 1 year after the date of the submission of the report referred to in subsection (f). (2) REVISION OF FEE. — After the program has been expanded, as provided in paragraph (1), the Attorney General may, on a periodic basis, revise the amount of the fee imposed and collected under subsection (e) in order to take into account changes in the cost of carrying out the program. (h) DEFINITIONS. — As used in this section: (1) APPROVED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The term "approved institution of higher education" means a college or university approved by the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, under subparagraph (F), (J), or (M) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. (2) DESIGNATED EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM.—The term "designated exchange visitor program" means a program that has been— (A) designated by the Director of the United States Information Agency for purposes of section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and (B) selected by the Attorney General for purposes of the program under this section. 8 USC 1373. SEC. 642. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE. (a) IN GENERAL. —Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a Federal, State, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual. (b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.— Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, no person or agency may prohibit, or in any way restrict, a Federal, State, or local government entity from doing any of the following with respect to information regarding the immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual: (1) Sending such information to, or requesting or receiving such information from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (2) Maintaining such information. (3) Exchanging such information with any other Federal, State, or local government entity. (c) OBLIGATION TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES. —The Immigration and Naturalization Service shall respond to an inquiry by a Federal, State, or local government agency, seeking to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law, by providing the requested verification or status information.
�
