WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation that classifies the Tohono O’Oodham Shadow Wolves unit as special agents, allowing them to better patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border.
Sinema’s bill – introduced with Republican Senator John Hoeven (N.D.) – previously passed the U.S. House and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“The Tohono O’Oodham Nation’s Shadow Wolves serve as critical partners to help combat drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illicit activity on the Southwest border. I’m proud both the U.S. Senate and House passed our legislation with bipartisan support, entrusting the Shadow Wolves with more authority to investigate and interdict illegal border activity and keep Arizona families safe and secure,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Government Operations and 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 bill also provides the ability to expand the Shadow Wolves program to other parts of the border.
In November, Sinema’s Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act advanced out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Earlier this month, the U.S. House passed the bipartisan House companion bill (H.R. 5681) to Sinema’s Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act.
