Shadow Wolves Improvement Act

The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is a Senate bill that would formally strengthen and expand the ICE Shadow Wolves Program, a federal law enforcement collaboration with Native American tribal governments (notably the Tohono O’odham Nation). The bill would add a new statutory section (Sec. 448) to the Homeland Security Act, setting out a formal mission, staffing needs, and strategic requirements for the program; require the Director of ICE to coordinate with tribal partners to refine goals and timelines; and require the Director to provide information to current GS-1801 Tactical Officers about reclassification to special agent status. It also creates a plan to recruit for future vacancies, establish criteria for expanding Shadow Wolves to additional tribal lands, and requires a report to Congress on progress after one year. Additionally, it amends the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act to allow experienced Shadow Wolves to noncompetitively convert to competitive service after three years, aligning them with a career appointment path. In short, the bill seeks to formalize goals, staffing, and expansion, improve transparency and transition options for personnel, and enhance congressional oversight of the Shadow Wolves program.