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Page | 60 The Specialist is responsible for contacting USCIS at the alien's request only when the alien has an USCIS document that does not clearly indicate eligible or ineligible status. The Specialist has no responsibility to contact USCIS at the alien's request if the alien has no USCIS document. If contact is needed call (605) 330-4276.

Specialists must report to USCIS only those household member(s) who are known to be unlawfully present as a result of information obtained through the State’s finding or conclusion of unlawful presence based on a formal determination by the State agency on an individual’s claim for benefits which is subject to administrative review by the State agency and is supported by a determination by Department of Homeland Security.

Specialist must report only individuals seeking to receive SNAP benefits for themselves and only when they meet the requirements above. Thoroughly document all circumstances in the case record. Specialists are cautioned that a determination that a person is an ineligible alien is not equivalent to a determination that a person is an illegal alien. Therefore, do not assume that an alien is illegal just because he is disqualified and cannot get SNAP benefits. When a household indicates inability or unwillingness to provide documentation of alien status for any household member, that member must be classified as an ineligible alien. Do not assume an alien is illegal because he cannot or does not provide proof of his status.

If a determination has been made that an individual is residing in the US unlawfully, make the report in writing with the supervisor's signature to the regional USCIS office at:

DHS ICE, Resident Agent in Charge

2708 N 1st Ave

Sioux Falls, SD 57104

3400 SYSTEMATIC ALIEN VERIFICATION FOR ENTITLEMENTS (SAVE)

Federal regulations require verification of all eligible non-citizen USCIS documents, and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE) is the process used for that verification. When non-citizens provide USCIS documents for verification of their USCIS status, a SAVE query must be sent to SAVE coordinator in the Benefits Specialists region. (The query document, SAVE, is located on the P Drive). The SAVE coordinator submits the documents to the SAVE system and forwards the response to the local office, generally a week later. If SAVE requests a secondary verification, the coordinator will compile the request and send notification to the local office that the secondary request process has been submitted and that the response will be delayed by at least 2 weeks. When the response is received, it is forwarded to the local office.

The SAVE information can only be used for the following purposes:

1. Verifying the validity of documentation of alien status presented by an applicant; 2. Verifying an individual's eligibility for benefits; 3. Investigating whether participating households received benefits to which they were not entitled, if an individual was previously certified to receive benefits on the basis of eligible alien status; and 4. Assisting in or conducting administrative disqualification hearings, or criminal or civil prosecutions based on receipt of SNAP benefits to which participating households were not entitled.

The SAVE response should be received for all non-citizens prior to approving benefits, unless the verification is waived for one or two months (combined allotment cases) to meet expedited time