Arizona’s democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs Plans to expand border security activities along the four border programs of the State, so that extra attention is paid to disturbing transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).
Hobbs signed an executive order on Tuesday to set up Operation Desert Guardian, a joint task force in which the state cooperates with local law enforcement, sheriffs and the federal government to disturb TCO operations in the provinces of Yuma, Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise.
“I am proud to launch Operation Desert Guardian to fight the cartels, stop drug smuggling and human trafficking and to secure the border of Arizona,” said Hobbs. “My administration has had contact with the federal government and local sheriffs about the operation, the critical objectives and our shared dedication to keep criminals and drugs out The communities of Arizona. “
Hobbs added that the objectives of the operation include the identification and softening of security vulnerabilities along the southern border of Arizona, which extends approximately 370 miles, while also combating border -related crimes by TCOs. To do this, Hobbs said, the Joint Task Force is planning to dismantle TCO seal chains and operational networks.
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Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an executive order on Tuesday that Operation Desert Guardian founded to hire Mexican cartels and to help secure the border. (Mario Tama/Getty images)
The financing of Operation Desert Guardian comes from a part of the state border security fund, which has a balance of $ 28 million.
The operation will also build on the efforts of Task Force Safe (stopping the fentanyle epidemic of Arizona), a joint operation between US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Arizona National Guard to prevent Arizona from entering the ports of entry.
Since the launch in July 2024, Task Force Safe has intercepted 19 million fentanyl pills, 6,598 pounds of illegal drugs and 237 weapons on the border.
In 2022, Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers seized more than 26 pounds of fentanyl pills at a Border Patrol -Checkpoint near Gila Bend. (Arizona Department of Public Safety)
“I have worked productively with the federal government on Task Force Safe and entered into a partnership with local law enforcement to offer critical border protection support, and I am looking forward to a continuous partnership about our shared border protection priorities,” Hobbs said. “With Operation Desert Guardian I am convinced that we can take an important next step in our current work to secure the border.”
After President Donald Trump was re -elected in November to a second term, Hobbs said that Arizona would not help the incoming administration with his “misled” plan to launch a massive deportation operation.
She was asked by ABC News if the Trump government would bring a reset to the border, and she reacted by concentrating on current partnerships with the federal government to protect the border.
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Migrants on the southern border met in Arizona (US Border Patrol)
“I am very hopeful that that partnership can continue, and that the incoming administration will listen, not only my administration, but also the experts here, the people who do the work, about what is most needed and what we can do that Continue to do, it will be the most useful when securing our border, “she said.
“What I will say unambiguously is that as a governor I will not tolerate efforts that are part of a misleading policy that damages our communities that threaten our communities that terrorize our communities, and Arizona will not participate.”
State Republicans have a different plan, and in January the State President Warren Petersen, a Republican, introduced the “AZ Ice Act”, which would require the departments of the Sheriff and the Arizona Department of Corrections to conclude collaboration agreements with immigration and customs enforcement (ice cream) .
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Migrants are in a remote US Border Patrol Processing Center after exceeding the border between the US and Mexico in Lukeville, Ariz., 7 December 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)
The agreements are based on 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, with which ICE can delegate certain immigration functions to state and local law enforcement officers, including identifying and retaining suspected illegal immigrants.
Petersen’s bill would also require law enforcement to comply with overlookers, who requests that ice cream is informed when an illegal immigrant is released from state or local custody. “Sanctuary” Jurisdictions do not meet Detainers.
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After Trump was sworn in the office on January 20, immediately A number of executive orders signed To tackle border security and illegal immigration.
Some local jurisdictions have promised their support for the measures, but other officials have promised to resist or not comply with planned deportation activities.
Adam Shaw from Fox News Digital has contributed to this report.
