Ciscomani Introduces Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Bipartisan Legislation

ASHINGTON - Congressman Juan Ciscomani, alongside Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY-3), introduced the bipartisan Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, legislation that strengthens federal-tribal border security partnerships and supports the long-standing Shadow Wolves program.

The Shadow Wolves are a group of elite ICE tactical agents with Native American heritage-who serve as expert trackers on tribal lands. Since the 1970s, they have operated on the Tohono O'odham Nation, where they play a critical role in identifying and interdicting drug smuggling and other illicit activity along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"For decades, the Shadow Wolves have played an essential role in supporting border security and strengthening relationships between DHS and tribal communities. Arizona has led the way on this program since the beginning, and this bill helps ensure the Shadow Wolves can continue their mission for years to come," said Congressman Ciscomani.

"The Shadow Wolves have demonstrated their commitment to their communities and their expertise in protecting our borders for decades. This bipartisan bill gives these officers the resources and support they need to continue their work at the highest level, while expanding this successful program to other tribal communities." said Congressman Suozzi. "I'm happy to partner with Congressman Ciscomani on such a commonsense bill."

The program has faced significant staffing challenges in recent years, including a wave of retirements and difficulties recruiting new agents. A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) reportfound that ICE is exploring expansion of the program to additional border-adjacent tribes where illicit activity is high, but the current hiring structure limits the agency's ability to recruit, retain, and grow the program.

The Shadow Wolves Improvement Actaddresses these challenges by granting ICE the authority to convert Shadow Wolves positions from the "excepted service" to the "competitive service." This change-recommended by both GAO and ICE-will allow the agency to offer more competitive career paths, improve recruitment and retention, and open new opportunities to expand the program to other tribal lands.

Ciscomani continued, "Working in a bipartisan way, we're giving ICE the tools it needs to hire and retain these highly specialized agents, expand the program to additional tribal lands, and bolster efforts to combat drug trafficking along our southern border. This is commonsense legislation that strengthens security and honors the history and contributions of the Shadow Wolves."

This bipartisan legislation is supported by various groups, including Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Gary Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of the National Native American Law Enforcement Association, and Verlon Jose, Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation.

"Public Safety, particularly drug and human trafficking, continues to plague 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. northern border. The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is an additional tool within the law enforcement toolbox that will help. The Tribe appreciates U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani and Tom Suozzi for introducing this important legislation and urges its swift passage in the House of Representatives," said Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

"The National Native American Law Enforcement Association (NNALEA) strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Native Americans play a key role protecting the US Borders and National Security. This bill is a positive step forward in giving Indian Country Law Enforcement the recognition and support they deserve," said Gary Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of the National Native American Law Enforcement Association.

"The Shadow Wolves, an all-Native American tracking and investigative unit, have decades of experience protecting the Tohono O'odham Nation and our border. Their unique skill set and deep knowledge of the land is invaluable to law enforcement efforts to interdict drugs and human smuggling on our reservation. The Tohono O'odham Nation strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, which will improve retention and recruitment of Shadow Wolves agents, and support the Nation's vital role in protecting our land," said Verlon Jose, Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation," said Verlon Jose, Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation.

The Senate companion bill (S. 572) is led by Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and has already passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with broad bipartisan support.