The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Headquarters (HQ) Hummingbird program is a U.S. Government program, initiated in July 2021 pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum on the Designation of the Department of Homeland Security as Lead Federal Department for Facilitating the Entry of Vulnerable Afghans into the United States and in support of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). DHS, in coordination with the Department of State (DOS), is supporting screening, processing and resettlement efforts for individuals coming from Afghanistan who are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents. This includes initial screening and vetting prior to entering the U.S., managing humanitarian parole, issuing special immigrant visas, processing at pre-designated U.S. military bases, COVID-19 testing, isolation of COVID-positive individuals, vaccinations, additional medical services, applications for immigration status, work authorization, and essential coverage, and resettlement assistance. The legal authority for this program is provided under Section 402, of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as revised (Pub. L. 107-296) (6 U.S.C. § 202).
The Hummingbird program supports Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). DHS HQ, in coordination with the Department of State (DOS), is supporting screening, processing and resettlement efforts for individuals coming from Afghanistan who are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent
residents. This includes initial screening and vetting prior to entering the U.S., managing humanitarian parole, issuing special immigrant visas, processing at pre-designated U.S. military bases, COVID-19 testing, isolation of COVID-positive individuals, vaccinations, additional medical services, applications for immigration status, work authorization, and essential coverage, and resettlement assistance. The request for emergency approval is based on the reasons listed below.
Through this summer and fall Americans across the country witnessed horrifying images of Afghani allies desperate to flee Afghanistan as that country rapidly fell into the hands of the Taliban. These Afghanis had offered their support and loyalty to the American military while American troops were deployed in their country. As a result of their loyalty to the United States, they became prime targets for Taliban retribution including likely bodily harm, possible death, and severe psychological distress over the traumatizing situation. During the fall of Kabul, reports in the American news media included instances of the Taliban murdering civilians and telling women it was not safe for them to leave their homes as their troops had not been trained in how in interact with women. Over the ensuing days, the Taliban noose tightened over Afghanistan and around the necks of our Afghan allies. Operations Allies Welcome very likely saved our allies lives by extracting them from Afghanistan and offering them refuge in America. In order to provide desperately needed resettlement and medical benefits to this loyal and deserving group, the collection of the information outlined in
Statement A is required. Without this critical information, the DOS and now DHS HQ would not be able to provide evacuation travel, critical medical services, and resettlement benefits.
The Hummingbird team is asking OMB to join with the DOS and DHS HQ in our efforts to deliver valuable benefits in an efficient manner reducing the time these loyal allies wait for critical services by approving this request for an emergency approval of this collection.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
CBP APIS SORN.pdf
PRA Supporting Statement A Hummingbird Final 3-25-22 (1).docx
DHS Hummingbird on ServiceNow Platform