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 Securitys 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 Oodham Nations 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 Oodham Nation during a Congressional hearing on border security and our antidrug efforts. I met with the Shadow Wolves. and found them to possess a unique dedication toward pursuing smugglers. Their 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 antidrug 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. CBPs control has stifled the impact of the Shadow Wolves.
Keywords matched
Border Protection border security Immigration