[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SHADOW WOLVES ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 7, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5681 the 
Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act, to authorize the reclassification of the 
tactical enforcement officers (commonly known as the ``Shadow Wolves'') 
in the Homeland Security Investigations tactical patrol unit operating 
on the lands of the Tohono O'odham Nation as special agents.
  The ``Shadow Wolves'' are a Native American tactical patrol unit 
assigned to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit in Sells, 
Arizona located on the Tohono O'odham Nation and was established by 
Congress in 1974.
  These officers specialize in the interdiction of human and drug 
smugglers in the rugged terrain of the Sonoran Desert.
  Under this bill, Shadow Wolves serving in these positions would be 
reclassified as GS-1811 special agents.
  As GS-1811 special agents, these officers would gain the statutory 
authority to carry firearms, conduct searches & seizures, make arrests, 
and receive a pay increase from an average of $37,000 a year to 
$50,000.
  Under existing authority, ``Shadow Wolves'' can only be hired as 
tactical officers at a lower paygrade, and those who wish to become HIS 
special agents receive no special consideration, which has caused pay 
and mobility limitations.
  Due to these limitations, the Shadow Wolves program is at risk of 
becoming nonoperational as officers retire.
  There are currently eight Shadow Wolves employed by ICE, five of whom 
meet the training requirements for conversion to the new pay status.
  The Act would also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
develop a strategy to retain existing Shadow Wolves, recruit new 
officers to the unit, and expand comparable units along the Canadian 
and Mexican borders.
  One year after the development of the strategy by the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be 
required to submit a report, as well as annually for the following 2 
years, that will assess the effectiveness of this strategy and provide 
recommendations for improvement.
  I would like to personally thank the eight members of the Native 
American Tactical Patrol Unit in the Tohono O'odham Nation for their 
work on preventing human trafficking and drug smuggling along our 
borders. Their work is of vital importance to the security of our 
Nation and our citizens.
  And on behalf of the constituents of the 18th Congressional District 
of Texas, I would also like to thank all tactical enforcement officers 
from the United States Secret Service, United States Drug Enforcement 
Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
  It is our duty as Members of Congress to ensure that these officers 
are receiving fair pay for the hard work that they have undertaken.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support this legislation and urge all 
Members to vote in favor of H.R. 5681, the Shadow Wolves Enhancement 
Act.

                          ____________________