Emergency Approval Request For DHS HQ Hummingbird Program Collection

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

MEMORANDUM FOR:

Dominic Mancini
Acting Administrator
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget

From:

Eric Hysen
Chief Information Officer
Department of Homeland Security

ERIC N HYSEN

Digitally signed by
ERIC N HYSEN
Date: 2022-03-24
07:46:50

Subject: Emergency Approval Request For DHS HQ Hummingbird Program
Collection
This memorandum requests an emergency approval for the collection of information
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) for the Department of Homeland Security
Head Quarters(DHS HQ), Hummingbird program. 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.
1.
Public Harm is Reasonably Likely to Result if Normal Clearance Procedures are
Followed

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.
2.
Paperwork Reduction Act Timeframes
If DHS HQ were to follow the normal information collection clearance procedures, it will
significantly hinder DHS HQ’s ability to provide swift assistance to these deserving individuals.
The data captured in Statement A is required to process Afghanis through the Hummingbird
program. Waiting for approval to collect this information will basically halt the progress of this
program leaving allies who have given so much to this country in a position where they cannot
provide the basic information needed to bring them through the resettlement process. This
could leave these individuals at lily pads (safe areas in other countries) and safe havens
(military bases and other locations in the United States) for a very long period of time which
could also compromise medically fragile individuals including late trimester pregnant women.
3.
Unanticipated Events:
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Delta and Omicron variants continue to impact
the American public and the scope continues to evolve. This pandemic has made it imperative
that DHS HQ assist these Afghani refugees/ parolees in moving into their final homes as
quickly as possible. Leaving individuals in temporary high density housing situations at safe
havens creates a situation where COVID-19 and its variants could flourish. While the safe
havens have offered support for those who have COVID-19 and appropriate accommodations
for isolating exposed individuals as required, moving individuals into their own homes could
reduce their overall COVID-19 risk. To this end, the DHS HQ request to approve this
collection should be granted. This will keep the resettlement program moving forward and
placing refugees/ parolees in their own homes as quickly as possible.
4.
DOS Has Been Collecting This Vital Information Since July 2021
The collection of this information began in July 2021when the DOS launched the urgent
mission supporting Operation Allies Welcome to pull Afghani allies who had supported this
Nation’s military out of Afghanistan as the chaotic fall of that country began. As was well
documented on many credible news stations, Afghani allies were desperate to flee Afghanistan
for fear of extreme physical and psychological harm, including possible death at the hands of
the Taliban. Most of us saw images of desperate people rushing airports and even resorting to
tossing their babies into American troops arms in an effort to protect their children’s lives. As a
result, tDOS developed and rolled out an emergency response to this crisis in a matter of days.
Thanks to this rapidly developed program, Afghani allies were able to reach lily pads (safe
areas in other countries) and eventually safe havens in the United States (military bases and
other locations) where they were able to leave the fear of Taliban retribution and receive
essential relocation and medical services. Given the urgency of the crisis, DOS was not able to
complete all required compliance processes. As DHS HQ takes over this program at the
specific direction of the White House, the DHS HQ team is striving to build on DOS success
and strengthen the program in part by completing required compliance items such as gaining
OMB approval of the collection of this information. As the collection of this information is

already in process, delaying approval of this collection request will significantly disrupt the ongoing mission critical delivery of desperately needed support to this very unique and vulnerable
population.

Conclusion
Following the normal clearance procedures for OMB approval to collect information
during the surge to resettle thousands of Afghani refugees who have supported this
Nations military would severely hamper DHS HQ efforts to resettle these refugees and
provide required care for the medically fragile. In addition, delaying approval of this
collection will result in refugees being denied crucial benefits including support for
COVID illnesses in the midst of the ever-changing and stressful environment associated
with new emerging variants such as Delta and Omicron. Refugees/parolees will also be
left to contend with the risk high density housing environments pose as COVID
continues to move through the country. Delaying the approval will limit DHS HQ’s
ability to provide this vulnerable population the critical resettlement support they have
earned.
As discussed, DHS HQ certifies that this request meets the requirements of 5 C.F.R. §
1320.13(a)and it is vital that this collection be implemented immediately because:

1. Public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed
2. An unanticipated event has occurred; or
3. The use of normal clearance procedures is reasonably likely to prevent or disrupt the
collection of information or is reasonably likely to cause a statutory or court ordered
deadline to be missed.

The DHS HQ respectfully requests your approval to allow the collection of critical
information required to establish Afghan refugees’ eligibility for resettlement
support and successfully complete resettlement of these allies.
Thank you for your consideration.

Approve

Date

Disapprove

Date