Arizona tightens its border with Mexico to curb criminal activity

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed Executive Order 2025-01 directing the Arizona Department of Emergency Management and Military Affairs, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Homeland Security to create a joint task force to execute Operation Desert Guardian, which expands immigration enforcement actions in the four counties bordering Sonora.

Operation Desert Guardian will seek to partner with local law enforcement, sheriffs, and the federal government to disrupt the operations of Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in Yuma, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties.

These US counties border San Luis Río Colorado, Plutarco Elías Calles, Caborca, Altar, Saric, Nogales, Santa Cruz, Naco and Agua Prieta in Sonora, municipalities that recently had their surveillance reinforced with Operation Northern Border launched by the Mexican government to deploy the National Guard and the Army on the international border with the United States.

The Arizona government's objectives with Operation Desert Guardian are to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities along the 600-kilometer southern border and combat crimes related to the region perpetrated by transnational organizations by dismantling their supply chains and operational networks.

Operation Desert Guardian will be funded by tapping into the $28 million balance of the state's Border Security Fund.

Efforts will focus on bolstering Task Force SAFE, a joint operation between the Arizona National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to intercept drugs at Arizona ports of entry.

“I am proud to launch Operation Desert Warden to combat cartels, stop drug and human trafficking, and secure Arizona’s border,” said Governor Katie Hobbs.

This year, Task Force SAFE has prevented more than 19 million fentanyl pills, 3,000 kilograms of other drugs, and 237 weapons from crossing the Arizona-Mexico border.

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