Arizona Governor Announces ‘Operation Desert Guardian’ to Fill Gaps in Border Security

The joint task force will seek to identify and resolve vulnerabilities at the state’s southern border to combat illegal drug and human trafficking.

Illegal immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala are held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers after crossing the border into the United States in Ruby, Ariz., on Jan. 4, 2025. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has announced the creation of a multi-agency task force to identify and address security vulnerabilities in four counties along the state’s 370-mile southern border.

On Feb. 25, Hobbs signed Executive Order 2025-01, which mandates the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to establish a joint task force known as Operation Desert Guardian.