To provide the Secretary of Homeland Security certain direct hiring authorities.

The Secretary of Homeland Security may appoint, without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, United States Code, candidates needed for positions within the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate, the Field Operations Directorate, and the Service Center Operations Directorate of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for which—

(A) public notice has been given;

(B) the Secretary has determined that a critical hiring need exists; and

(C) the Secretary has consulted with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management regarding—

(i) the positions for which the Secretary plans to recruit;

(ii) the quantity of candidates Secretary is seeking; and

(iii) the assessment and selection policies the Secretary plans to utilize.

In this subsection, the term critical hiring need means personnel necessary for the implementation of this Act and associated work.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 4 years, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall submit to Congress a report that includes—

(A) demographic data, including veteran status, regarding individuals hired pursuant to the authority under paragraph (1);

(B) salary information of individuals hired pursuant to such authority; and

(C) how the Department of Homeland Security exercised such authority consistently with merit system principles.

The authority to make an appointment under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

The Secretary of Homeland Security may appoint, without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3319 of title 5, United States Code, candidates needed for positions within Enforcement and Removal Operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a deportation officer or with duties exclusively relating to the Enforcement and Removal, Custody Operations, Alternatives to Detention, or Transportation and Removal program for which—

(A) public notice has been given;

(B) the Secretary has determined that a critical hiring need exists; and

(C) the Secretary has consulted with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management regarding—

(i) the positions for which the Secretary plans to recruit;

(ii) the quantity of candidates the Secretary is seeking; and

(iii) the assessment and selection policies the Secretary plans to utilize.

In this subsection, the term critical hiring need means personnel necessary for the implementation of this Act and associated work.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 4 years, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall submit to Congress a report that includes—

(A) demographic data, including veteran status, regarding individuals hired pursuant to the authority under paragraph (1);

(B) salary information of individuals hired pursuant to such authority; and

(C) how the Department of Homeland Security exercised such authority consistently with merit system principles.

The authority to make an appointment under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.