AZ Governor Katie Hobbs speaks on Operation Desert Guardian while in Yuma
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs recently signed an executive order to tighten security operations in Arizona's four border counties.
She spoke about this new operation while in Yuma on Thursday.
Gov. Hobbs launched earlier in the week Operation Desert Guardian, a joint task force led by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Homeland Security, and Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
Hobbs says, "What we're focused on here is really the criminal activity with the cartels, human smuggling, drug smuggling, trafficking off illegal weapons, and those things are still happening."
She says the state has had success at border points of entry, but the areas in between continue to cause problems.
"Really focused on building on the success of Task Force Safe which has had National Guard members at points-of-entry working on drug interdiction efforts. This is broader focusing on those areas where there's not enforcement and doing everything we can to disrupt the Transnational Criminal Operations, the cartels," Hobbs explains.
She confirms that funding comes from the state's border security fund which has already been appropriated but hopes that federal funds can soon back the recent efforts.
"I'm hopeful that we'll see some funds that we've been asking for the last couple years, and under this new administration, I think they're more willing to fund border security," she adds.
Governor Hobbs clarifies that this order focuses on making Arizona safer and not on mass deportations.
"What I've been very clear about is that I don't support is indiscriminate raids, deporting dreamers, ICE going into places in or communities like churches, schools, and hospitals, and I have said that we're not going to use state resources to do those things," states Hobbs.
Governor Hobbs has repeatedly said that she will work with anyone who will make sure we have a secure border and is optimistic that the Trump Administration is willing to step in and help.
