BREAKING: Border Chair Sinema’s Bipartisan Shadow Wolves Bill Now Law

Apr 20, 2022

Sinema’s bipartisan law classifies the Tohono O’odham Shadow Wolves unit as special agents

WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Chair of the Senate Border Management Subcommittee, announced that her bipartisan Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act was signed into law. 
 
Sinema’s bipartisan law classifies the Tohono O’odham Shadow Wolves unit as special agents, allowing them to better patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border.
 
“Our bipartisan law entrusting Tohono O’odham Nation’s Shadow Wolves with more authority to investigate and interdict illegal border activity will keep Arizona families safe and secure,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Border Management Subcommittee.
 
Shadow Wolves are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who work for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Shadow Wolves patrol the 76-mile stretch of land the Nation shares with Mexico and are known for their ability to track drug smugglers as they attempt to smuggle illegal commodities across the border. Sinema’s bill reclassifies Shadow Wolves from tactical officers to special agents, allowing the unit to better investigate and track cross-border criminal activity. The law also expands the Shadow Wolves program to other parts of the border.
 
As Chair of the Senate Border Management Subcommittee, Sinema continues working across the aisle with colleagues and partners on the ground to ensure the federal government addresses the ongoing, serious challenges at the border.