Kelly and Sinema’s Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Clears Homeland Security Committee with Bipartisan Support

The bipartisan legislation makes it easier to recruit and retain Shadow Wolves agents and improves border security

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee approved Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema’s Shadow Wolves Improvement Act—bipartisan legislation they introduced alongside Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) providing additional career mobility opportunities to Shadow Wolves law enforcement officers, making it easier to recruit and retain Shadow Wolves agents and improving border security.  

“The Shadow Wolves are a critical asset of our nation’s border security efforts, using their unique skills and knowledge to stop dangerous drug and human trafficking operations on tribal lands,” said Kelly. “By enhancing recruitment and retention, we are not only protecting the Tohono O’odham Nation but strengthening security along our entire southern border. I’m proud to see our bill advance with strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to seeing it through to final passage.” 

“Our bill ensures the Tohono O’Oodham Nation’s Shadow Wolves have the resources needed to continue combating drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illicit activity on the Southwest border. I’m proud my legislation earned strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to getting it passed into law,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Border Management Subcommittee and member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. 

“Our legislation builds upon the success of the Shadow Wolves initiative, giving these agents the career mobility they deserve while expanding the program, including along the northern border,” said Senator Hoeven. “Doing so comes as part of our broader efforts to deploy the personnel, infrastructure and technology needed to ensure the security of our nation’s borders, get the illegal immigration crisis under control and protect against human and drug trafficking.” 

“ICE Shadow Wolves agents—a Native American tactical patrol unit—use their unique expertise and personal knowledge to stop drug traffickers and human smugglers from coming across the southern border. Giving these critical law enforcement officers access to expanded career mobility and opportunity not only supports their work to secure the border but also strengthens recruiting and retention for agents,” said Lankford. 

“The Shadow Wolves are an elite, all-Native American tracking and investigative unit with decades of experience, who use both technology and traditional tracking methods to interdict human and drug smuggling on the Tohono O’odham reservation. The Tohono O’odham Nation strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, which will further enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves program by improving retention and recruitment and expanding the program. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has done great work incorporating feedback from the Nation into this bill. Its passage will ensure that this group of Native American agents can continue to grow and provide their uniquely important capabilities to protect the Tohono O’odham and the U.S. homeland,” said Verlon Jose, Chairman of Tohono O’odham Nation. 

“Public Safety, particularly drug and human trafficking, continue to be a priority for Indian Country. These issues are uniquely difficult for tribal communities, like the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who are located along the U.S. border. The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is an additional tool within the law enforcement toolbox that will help. The Tribe appreciate Senators Sinema and Hoeven introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage in the Senate,” said Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. 

“The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is a necessary step forward to provide appropriate guidance and options to a group of Native American law enforcement agents which will permit them to receive the same compensation, benefits, and opportunities as their non-native brothers and sisters,” said President Mat Silverman of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). “FLEOA recognizes the value and expertise the Shadow Wolves provide and support the expansion of this program. Our country and Native American border communities will benefit from the increased opportunities, increased safety, and equality this Act will bring to the Tohono O’odham Nation and other tribes across this great nation.” 

Shadow Wolves are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who patrol the 76-mile stretch of land that the Tohono O’odham Nation shares with Mexico. They are known for their ability to track drug smugglers as they attempt to smuggle illegal commodities across Tribal land, thanks to their unique geographical and cultural knowledge. They also help improve the relationship between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Tribal communities.  

In 2022, Kelly and Sinema successfully introduced and passed the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act—legislation classifying the Shadow Wolves unit as special agents allowed to patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border—with broad bipartisan support. Previous to this, Shadow Wolves were classified as tactical officers under ICE Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), making them unable to access the same career opportunities, pay, and job mobility afforded to HSI special agents.  

The Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act addressed this gap by reclassifying the Shadow Wolves as special agents; however, Shadow Wolves still lack the same career opportunities as other HSI special agents because of how they were originally hired. Kelly and Sinema’s new legislation solve this by providing ICE with the authority to convert Shadow Wolves from the excepted to the competitive service upon completion of three years of satisfactory service, affording them career mobility and compensation parity with other HSI special agents. This update will enhance career opportunities for Shadow Wolves agents, strengthen recruitment efforts, and improve border security. Additionally, the legislation codifies GAO’s recommendations to improve and expand the Shadow Wolves program.