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BORDER / Modified jul 31, 2025 9:51 a.m.

Gallego brings back bill to expand opportunities for Tribal border enforcement agents

A bill is advancing in Congress that could give better pay and career mobility to Native American law enforcement agents on tribal lands. by Danyelle Khmara

360 tohono border Barriers installed by the federal government along the Arizona-Mexico border on the Tohono O'odham Nation.
AZPM Staff

Shadow Wolves are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who patrol the 76-mile stretch of land the Nation shares with Mexico and track drug smugglers using both geographical and cultural knowledge.

Despite their role in border security, Shadow Wolves currently lack the same career advancement and compensation opportunities as other Homeland Security agents.

The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act includes recommendations from the Government Accountability Office to enhance and expand the Shadow Wolves program by allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to convert those who showed three years of satisfactory work to a career status that allows for better compensation and career mobility.

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego helped reintroduce the bill that had passed through committee last year but didn’t advance any further.

A senate committee just unanimously voted to advance the bipartisan bill to the full Senate.

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