Kelly, Sinema Applaud Appointments of Tohono O’odham Nation & Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairmen to Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council

U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. and Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Peter Yucupicio as inaugural members of the Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council

Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema applauded the appointments of Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. and Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Peter Yucupicio as inaugural members of the Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council.

“Arizonans and tribal communities will be greatly served by Chairmen Norris and Yucupicio on the Tribal Homeland Security Council.  Their leadership and expertise will be instrumental in our shared efforts to secure the southern border, strengthen Nation-to-Nation relationships, and keep Arizonans safe,” said Senator Kelly. 

“Chairmen Norris and Yucupicio have been critical partners in securing key priorities for tribal communities, such as our bipartisan Shadow Wolves Enhancement law and our bipartisan infrastructure law. I applaud their appointments to the Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council and look forward to continuing working with them to keep our communities safe and secure,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Border Management Committee.

The newly created Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council will advise on homeland security policies and practices that affect Indian Country – including emergency management, law enforcement, cybersecurity, domestic terrorism and targeted violence, and border security. The inaugural members – including Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Yucupicio and Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Norris – represent more than 564,000 registered tribal members, 178 villages and village corporations, and collectively embody an extensive base knowledge of homeland security subject matter expertise.

Earlier this year, Sinema’s Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act – bipartisan legislation also backed by Kelly that was signed into law – classifies the Tohono O’odham Shadow Wolves unit as special agents, allowing them to better patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border.

Click HERE to learn more about the Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council.