Arizona Republic: ‘Shadow Wolves’ border-security team would get boost under Sen. Ruben Gallego bill 

Raphael Romero Ruiz [2/13/25] 

Read the article here.

Sen. Ruben Gallego was expected Thursday to reintroduce legislation to expand the Shadow Wolves, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactical patrol group that patrols the Tohono O’odham Nation.

The “Shadow Wolves” are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation, which is in Southwestern Arizona and shares 76 miles of border with Mexico. The Shadow Wolves patrol that border and are known for their tracking abilities and knowledge of the land.  

Gallego’s bill, cosponsored by Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., reclassifies the group as “competitive service employees” and aims to give members “greater career mobility,” improve member retention, and make it “easier to recruit new agents,”  according to Gallego’s office.  

It’s the latest time that Senate members have brought the bipartisan Shadow Wolves Improvement Act to the floor. Last session, the bill cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee but did not make it out of the Senate.  

“Arizona’s Shadow Wolves are invaluable in our fight against human trafficking and drug smuggling. It’s about time they had the same benefits as other federal agents,” Gallego said in a written statement. “This bill makes sure they get fair treatment, helps recruit and keep top talent, and helps builds a stronger relationship between DHS and Tribal communities so we can work together to keep our border communities safe.”  

Three years ago, the Shadow Wolves were reclassified from tactical officers to special agents by the passage of the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act, introduced by Kelly and former Sen. Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz.

Being reclassified expanded Shadow Wolves’ authority and allowed members to access better pay, job mobility and career opportunities similar to those extended to Homeland Security Investigations special agents. The unit was originally part of the U.S. Customs Service, established by Congress in 1947 to combat drug smuggling on the sovereign tribal nation’s lands.

Tohono O’odham Chair Verlon Jose called the Shadow Wolves are “invaluable” to the nation’s law enforcement.

“The Tohono O’odham Nation strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act to give our Shadow Wolves agents the support they deserve and preserve the Nation’s role in protecting our land,” Jose said.