[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1371-E1372]
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. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 10, 2006

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 5589. This bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
transfer all functions of the Customs Patrol Officers unit operating on 
the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation to the United States Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement.
  The Shadow Wolves are a specialized all-Native American unit of the 
legacy U.S. Customs Service within the Tohono O'odham Indian nation, 
and they have patrolled 76 miles

[[Page E1372]]

of the U.S./Mexico land border in southern Arizona for over 30 years. 
Their methods of capturing narcotics smugglers combine modern 
technology and ancient tracking techniques, which have proven to be 
highly successful.
  However, the Shadow Wolves unit's direction was compromised when it 
was absorbed into the Customs Border Patrol, and its unique identity 
was threatened. Not only was this action harmful to the security 
benefits from the Shadow Wolves' connection with the community and the 
respect of its cultural makeup, it significantly lowered morale within 
the unit.
  This bill would seek to resolve this issue by returning the Shadow 
Wolves to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It 
also includes provisions that would set the Shadow Wolves' pay scale at 
the same rate as ICE Special Agents and grant the Chief Officer a rank 
equivalent to a resident agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of 
Investigations.
  This would not only significantly improve moral within the unit but 
increase the efficiency of the border security within that region. Thus 
I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to 
help continue to protect the security of our borders.

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