Southern Border State Governor Signs Executive Order to Combat Cartels, Security and Other Issues

Arizona’s Democratic Governor, Katie Hobbs, intends to increase border security along Arizona’s four border counties. She will also focus more on dismantling transnational criminal groups (TCOs).

Hobbs issued an executive order on Tuesday to create Operation Desert Guardian. This is a task force that the state will partner with the local police, the sheriffs, and the federal authorities to disrupt TCO activities in the counties of Yuma, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise.

Hobbs stated, “I am proud to announce Operation Desert Guardian to fight the cartels and stop human and drug trafficking. I also want to secure Arizona’s borders. My administration has spoken with federal officials and sheriffs to discuss the Operation and its important objectives, as well as our commitment to keep criminals and illegal drugs out of Arizona communities.”

Hobbs said that TCOs will be able to use the border operation as a tool for combating crimes related to border security. Hobbs explained that the task force would dismantle TCO’s supply chain and operational networks to achieve this.

Operation Desert Guardian will be funded by a portion from the Border Security Fund of California, with a total of $28 million.

This operation builds on Task Force SAFE, a joint effort between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Arizona National Guard. The goal of Task Force SAFE is to prevent drugs from entering Arizona through the ports of entry.

Task Force SAFE, which was launched in July 2024 and has been operating since then, has intercepted over 19 million fentanyl tablets, 6,598 pounds of illicit drugs, and 237 guns and seized other illegal weapons.

Hobbs stated, “I look forward to continuing our partnership in achieving border security goals that we all share. With Operation Desert Guardian, I am confident that we will be able to take a significant next step in the ongoing efforts of securing our border.”

Hobbs stated that after President Donald Trump’s reelection to a second term in November, Arizona will not assist the new administration with their “misguided plan” to launch a massive deportation campaign.

ABC News asked her if the Trump Administration would reset the border. She responded by focusing primarily on existing partnerships with federal governments to secure the borders.

She said: “I’m very hopeful about the continuation of this partnership, that the new administration will not only listen to my administration but also to the experts on the ground and the people who are working, to find out what the most important needs are and to see what can be done to help secure our border.”

Arizona won’t take part. “I will unambiguously say that as Governor, I will never tolerate misguided efforts which harm, threaten, or terrorize Arizonan communities.”

The Republican Party has a different plan. In January, Republican state Senate president Warren Petersen introduced the “AZ ICE Act,” which requires sheriffs’ departments and the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) to enter cooperative agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

These agreements are based upon 287(g), which is a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows ICE to delegate certain immigration functions to local and state law enforcement officials, such as identifying and detaining suspected illegal immigrants.

Petersen’s bill also requires law enforcement agencies to adhere to ICE detainers. These are requests for ICE notification when an illegal alien is released from local or state custody. Detainers are not followed by “sanctuary” jurisdictions.

The day after Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20th, he immediately issued a series of executive orders aimed at border security and illegal migration.

Some local authorities have pledged to support the deportation measures. Other officials, however, have promised either not to comply or to resist any such operations.