PHOENIX — Governor Katie Hobbs has signed Executive Order 2025-01, establishing Operation Desert Guardian, a new border security initiative aimed at disrupting transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and stopping the flow of drugs and human trafficking in Arizona’s four border counties.
The operation will be a joint effort between the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, working closely with local law enforcement, sheriffs, and federal partners in Yuma, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties.
Governor Hobbs: Strengthening Border Security
“I’m proud to launch Operation Desert Guardian to combat the cartels, stop drug smuggling and human trafficking, and secure Arizona’s border,” Governor Hobbs said. “My administration has been in contact with the federal government and local sheriffs about the operation, its critical objectives, and our shared commitment to keeping criminals and drugs out of Arizona’s communities.”
Key Objectives of Operation Desert Guardian
- Identifying & addressing security vulnerabilities along Arizona’s 370-mile southern border
- Disrupting & dismantling transnational criminal organizations’ supply chains
- Expanding state support for local & federal law enforcement partners
Funding: Operation Desert Guardian will be financed through Arizona’s $28 million Border Security Fund.
Building on the Success of Task Force SAFE
The operation builds on the success of Task Force SAFE, a joint effort between the Arizona National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to interdict drugs at Arizona’s ports of entry.
Task Force SAFE Impact So Far:
- 19 million fentanyl pills seized
- 6,598 pounds of other illicit drugs confiscated
- 237 illegal weapons intercepted
Governor Hobbs’ Commitment to Border Security
Since taking office, Governor Hobbs has prioritized border security through bipartisan efforts and strong collaborationbetween state, local, and federal agencies.
- Over $100 million in border security funding deployed to local law enforcement
- National Guard mobilized & Task Force SAFE created
- Border Coordination Office established within the Arizona Department of Homeland Security
- Stood up to the Biden administration over the Lukeville Port of Entry closure
- Signed the bipartisan Ashley Dunn Act, increasing sentences for high-volume fentanyl traffickers
- Requested over $500 million in federal reimbursement for Arizona’s border security costs
Balanced Approach to Immigration
Governor Hobbs has pledged not to use state resources to indiscriminately round people up, target Dreamers, or enforce immigration laws in sensitive locations like churches, schools, or hospitals—except in cases involving violent offenders.
Read Executive Order 2025-01: Establishing Operation Desert Guardian
