[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1370-E1371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DIRECTING SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO TRANSFER FUNCTIONS OF UNIT 
           OPERATING ON THE TOHONO O'ODHAM INDIAN RESERVATION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN B. SHADEGG

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 10, 2006

  Mr. SHADEGG. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5589, a bill to 
transfer a Customs Patrol Officers unit known as the ``Shadow Wolves,'' 
to the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement branch.
  The Shadow Wolves were created by an Act of Congress in 1972, 
establishing a Native American customs unit to operate along the Tohono 
O'odham Nation's border with Mexico. The unit is entirely composed of 
Native Americans and is tasked with infiltrating and disrupting drug 
cartels and smuggling operations along the border.
  In March of 2003, I had the opportunity to visit the Tohono O'odham 
Nation during a Congressional hearing on border security and our anti-
drug efforts. I met with the Shadow Wolves, and found them to possess a 
unique dedication toward pursuing smugglers. Their

[[Page E1371]]

investigative skills and tracking techniques provide vital information 
and intelligence to local, state, and federal law enforcement agents. 
Their traditional roles in intelligence gathering, evidence collection, 
and prosecution have been imperative to our national security and anti-
drug efforts.
  Unfortunately, these roles have been altered since being reassigned 
to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, CBP, which does not 
view itself as responsible for intelligence gathering and evidence 
collection. CBP's control has stifled the impact of the Shadow Wolves.
  Since the transfer to CBP, the number of drug seizures has noticeably 
declined. In 2002, before the transfer, the Shadow Wolves interdicted 
over 93,000 pounds of marijuana. Only two years later, under CBP, only 
52,000 pounds of marijuana were seized.
  Under CBP, the Shadow Wolves have been hampered by operational 
restrictions that continuously undermine the unit's unique 
capabilities. They are now confined to a seven mile grid along the 
border, which hampers their ability to track smugglers; they were told 
they can't do undercover work because ``the Border Patrol doesn't do 
that;'' and all of the Native American informants on the Reservation 
are now handled by non-Indian Border Patrol agents.
  A unit that once had 21 agents is down to 16 and is under the threat 
of losing more. Low morale and a lack of respect and purpose under the 
control of CBP threaten their very existence.
  H.R. 5589 would restore the vital role the Shadow Wolves have 
traditionally played in drug interdiction and combating smugglers along 
our border. I strongly support this legislation and hope that it will 
reach President Bush's desk quickly.

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