Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act

To authorize the reclassification of the tactical enforcement officers (commonly known as the Shadow Wolves 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act 2. Reclassification of Shadow Wolves as GS–1811 special agents Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is authorized— (1) to reclassify the GS–1801 tactical enforcement officers (commonly known as Shadow Wolves (A) the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Criminal Investigator Training Program; and (B) (i) Customs Basic Enforcement School, if the officer was hired before March 2003; or (ii) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Training, if the officer was hired during or after March 2003; (2) to classify any Shadow Wolves who are assigned to the unit referred to in paragraph (1) after such date of enactment as special agents upon the successful completion of the training described in paragraph (1); and (3) to classify any Shadow Wolves who are hired as part of a comparable unit (regardless of location) after such date of enactment as special agents upon the successful completion of the training described in paragraph (1). 3. Expansion of Shadow Wolves Program Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Comptroller General of the United States, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (1) retaining existing Shadow Wolves; (2) recruiting new Shadow Wolves; (3) expanding comparable units referred to in section 2(3) to appropriate areas near the international border between the United States and Canada or the international border between the United States and Mexico, with the approval and consent of the appropriate Indian tribe; and (4) determining the best process for expanding the reach of the Shadow Wolves Program to include historically and culturally significant areas for Tribal communities that are not located on Tribal lands. 4. GAO study (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to determine the best process for expanding the reach of the Shadow Wolves Program to include historically and culturally significant areas for tribal communities that are not located on tribal lands. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after receiving the strategy under section 3, and annually for the following 2 years, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (1) an assessment of the effectiveness of such strategy; and (2) any recommendations for improvements to the strategy that the Comptroller General determines to be appropriate. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act 2. Reclassification of Shadow Wolves as GS–1811 special agents The Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is authorized— (1) to reclassify the GS-1801 tactical enforcement officers (commonly known as Shadow Wolves (A) the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Criminal Investigator Training Program; and (B) (i) Customs Basic Enforcement School, if the officer was hired before March 2003; or (ii) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Training, if the officer was hired during or after March 2003; (2) to classify any Shadow Wolves who are assigned to the unit referred to in paragraph (1) after such date of enactment as GS–1811 special agents upon the successful completion of the training described in paragraph (1); and (3) to classify as GS–1811 special agents upon the successful completion of the training described in paragraph (1) any Shadow Wolves who are hired as part of a comparable unit (regardless of location), established after such date of enactment with the approval and consent of the appropriate Indian tribe. 3. Expansion of Shadow Wolves Program Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Comptroller General of the United States, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (1) retaining existing Shadow Wolves; (2) recruiting new Shadow Wolves; and (3) expanding comparable units referred to in section 2(3) to appropriate areas near the international border between the United States and Canada or the international border between the United States and Mexico, with the approval and consent of the appropriate Indian tribe. 4. GAO report Not later than 1 year after receiving the strategy required under section 3 and annually for the following two years, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (1) an assessment of the effectiveness of such strategy; and (2) any recommendations for improvements to the strategy that the Comptroller General determines to be appropriate. December 7, 2022 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act This bill authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reclassify officers assigned to the tactical patrol unit on Tohono O'odham Nation land, commonly known as Shadow Wolves, as ICE special agents upon completing certain required training. Officers assigned to a comparable unit, regardless of location, may also be reclassified as ICE special agents upon completing the training and receiving the approval and consent of the appropriate Indian tribe. The Department of Homeland Security and the Government Accountability Office shall separately study and report on the best processes for expanding the Shadow Wolves program.