ICE Shadow Wolves

October 29, 2021

Overview

The Shadow Wolves are a Native American tactical patrol unit assigned to Homeland Security Investigations in Sells, Arizona located on the Tohono O’odham Nation. The name "Shadow Wolves" refers to the way the unit hunts, like a wolf pack. The Shadow Wolves specialize in the interdiction of human and drug smugglers through the rugged terrain of the Sonoran Desert utilizing both technology and the traditional art of tracking. Despite the use of high-tech equipment, the unit relies on their ability to track, a technique called "cutting for sign" which includes any kind of physical evidence left by smugglers, (footprints, tire tracks, thread, clothing, etc.). This elite unit was established by Congressional mandate in 1974 in response to rampant smuggling occurring through the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Key Facts

The Shadow Wolves are the Department of Homeland Security’s only Native American tracking unit specifically utilized for targeted interdiction operations.
The Tohono O’odham Nation, patrolled by the Shadow Wolves, covers 2.8 million acres, including a 76-mile stretch of land shared with Mexico.
The Shadow Wolves are a key component of the Native American Targeted Investigations of Violent Enterprises (NATIVE) Task Force, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative formed in August 2013, to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating within or through the Tohono O'odham Nation. NATIVE’s partners include HSI, the Tohono O’odham Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Drug Enforcement Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Congress has recently introduced a bill to modernize the Shadow Wolves Program, by providing the flexibility to reclassify the Shadow Wolves, current and future, from GS-1801 Tactical Officers to GS 1811 Special Agents. This change would broaden the Shadow Wolves authorities while preserving the important legacy of the unit.

Success Stories

Multiple law enforcement agencies including the Shadow Wolves participated in Operation Rocky Top 2, as part of the HIDTA NATIVE Task Force, dismantling a component of the Sinaloa Cartel that exploited the U.S.-Mexico border within the Tohono O’Odham Nation. | Read more at Justice.gov
Interdiction and investigative efforts the Shadow Wolves have led and participated in between 2010 and 2020, resulted in 437 drug and immigration arrests; the seizure of over 117,264 pounds of drugs, 45 weapons, 251 vehicles and $847,928 in U.S. currency.

Enforcement and Removal

Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality Act

Allows a state and local law enforcement entity to enter into a partnership with ICE, under a joint MOA to receive delegated authority.

Updated Facts on ICE's 287(g) Program

In 2009, ICE revised the 287(g) delegated authority program.

Family Residential Standards

ERO opened the Berks Family Residential Center to accommodate noncitizen families in ICE custody.

Case examples: ICE operations targeting criminal noncitizens

Data captured from July 13 to Aug. 20, 2020, shows that ICE officers arrested more than 2,000 at-large individuals living illegally in the U.S.

ICE Air Operations

IAO is ICE’s primary air transportation division.

ICE Detention Standards

ICE continuously revises its detention standards as needed.

Locating Individuals in Detention

ODLS allows family members, legal representatives, and members of the public to locate individuals who are detained by ICE.

Parole of Arriving Aliens Found to Have Credible Fear of Persecution or Torture

Noncitizens who arrive in the US at a POE and are found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture will automatically be considered for parole.

Protected Areas and Courthouse Arrests

This policy is part of DHS’s effort to avoid restricting people’s access to essential services or engagement in essential activities.

Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims

Q&A: Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims

Homeland Security Investigations

Operation Firewall

Targets the full array of methods used to smuggle bulk cash.

"Operation In Plain Sight" - Targeting Arizona Smuggling Organizations

'Operation In Plain Sight', named as such because of the brazen nature of the transportation companies' activities

DHS Blue Campaign

ICE continues to enhance its TIP Strategy and plays a key role in DHS's anti-human trafficking initiative, the Blue Campaign.

Human Trafficking and Smuggling

The US is a destination country for thousands of men, women, and children trafficked from all areas of the world.

Form I-9 Inspection

The Immigration Reform and Control Act designates the I-9 form as the means of verifying identity and employment eligibility.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Pattern Analysis and Information Collection System (ICEPIC)

ICEPIC helps to identify suspicious identities and discovers possible non-obvious relationships among individuals and organizations.

Homeland Security Investigations at Super Bowl LV

HSI personnel will be on the front lines of the interagency effort to mitigate the threat posed by criminal organizations seeking to exploit and profit from criminal activity conducted in and around the Super Bowl - from the identification and seizure of counterfeit goods to enhanced efforts to counter human trafficking.

Intellectual Property Right Theft Enforcement Teams

IPTETs build on the investigative best practices identified by the IPR Center

National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center

The IPR Center stops predatory and unfair trade practices that threaten the global economy.

Operation Apothecary

Combats pharmaceutical smuggling

Operation Guardian

Combats the importation of substandard tainted, and counterfeit products that pose health and safety risks to consumers

Operation In Our Sites

The IPR Center and its partner agencies aggressively pursue those who steal from American businesses and workers.

Operation Pangea

Uses enforcement actions to raise awareness of the dangers posed by counterfeit medicines and medical devices being sold on the Internet

Outreach & Training

IPR Center's Outreach & Training Unit engages in partnerships to combat IP theft through it's Operation Joint Venture initiative

Tracing the Counterfeit Shoe Market

Despite international efforts to stop counterfeiting, a lack of consumer knowledge and the increase of online shopping gives crooks more ways than ever to dupe unsuspecting individuals out of jobs, profits and the health and safety of their families.

Counter-Proliferation Investigations

Notable ICE Counter-Proliferation Investigations Cases

Success Stories – ICE uses Immigration and Customs Authorities to Address National Security threats.

Operation Predator - Targeting child exploitation and sexual crimes

Each year, millions of children fall prey to sexual predators.

Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities (CPAA) Investigations

ICE works with experts to authenticate items, determine their true ownership and return them to their countries of origin.

ICE Shadow Wolves

A tactical patrol unit based on the Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona

In-Bond Merchandise Diversion Smuggling

In-bond smuggling occurs when someone knowingly avoids paying lawful customs charges or duties on imported or exported merchandise.

World War II Cultural Property Cases