Hobbs’ Flips, Praises Trump Border Posture

Since taking office, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has made significant shifts in her stance on border security, drawing criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Once a vocal critic of state-led enforcement efforts, Hobbs has embraced initiatives that mirror some of the policies she previously opposed.

This week, Hobbs signed Executive Order 2025-01, creating Operation Desert Guardian, a state-funded task force aimed at disrupting transnational criminal organizations. This initiative, backed by $28 million from Arizona’s Border Security Fund, directly contradicts her earlier stance that border enforcement should be left to federal authorities.

Hobbs stated that Trump is “taking border security seriously.”  She continues, “As a governor of a border state who has been requesting resources for the last two years, I am very optimistic about their approach to the border”.

Today, I signed an Executive Order launching Operation Desert Guardian to combat cartels, stop drug smuggling and human trafficking, and secure Arizona’s border. pic.twitter.com/fTnY8QJIHX

— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) February 25, 2025

One of the most striking reversals is her shift from opposing state-funded border enforcement to actively launching her own initiatives. In 2022 and 2023, Hobbs dismissed former Governor Doug Ducey’s use of shipping containers as a border barrier, calling it “a waste of taxpayer dollars” that “wasn’t actually securing anything.”  Hobbs previously emphasized that border security was primarily a federal issue and criticized state-level interventions she deemed ineffective or political. She opposed building barriers without federal approval, calling the shipping container wall a “visual barrier” that was “not actually providing an effective barrier to entry” in an interview with a local radio station.

She also vetoed multiple Republican-sponsored border security bills, including the Border Invasion Act, which sought to criminalize illegal border crossings at the state level.

Dan Coulson, a former Governor Doug Ducey staffer, said, “She’s restoring Ducey border programs she campaigned against, extending Ducey policies she opposed, rehiring Ducey agency directors, and promoting Ducey alumni. After 2 years of failure, Hobbs needs Team Ducey to fix her mess…”

In the early stages of her administration, Governor Katie Hobbs expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of deploying the Arizona National Guard to the border, suggesting such actions were more symbolic than substantive. However, by December 2023, she shifted her approach, signing an executive order to mobilize the National Guard to southern Arizona. This deployment aimed to assist local law enforcement in managing increased cross-border activity and addressing the closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry. Governor Hobbs stated, “Yet again, the federal government is refusing to do its job to secure our border and keep our communities safe.”

She also launched Task Force SAFE (Stopping Arizona’s Fentanyl Epidemic), a collaborative effort between the Arizona National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

This week she has marshaled state agencies and funds to “expand border security operations” in Arizona, creating task forces and deploying the National Guard when needed. Hobbs declares efforts to “combat the cartels, stop drug smuggling and human trafficking” as state priorities.

Another significant reversal involves her criticism of federal policies. In late 2023, she opposed the temporary closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry, arguing that it adversely affected Arizona businesses. Additionally, she has joined Arizona’s U.S. Senators in requesting over $500 million in federal reimbursements for state-led border security efforts, highlighting her shift from deference to active advocacy for state resources.

Hobbs has also changed her approach to working with local law enforcement. In her early tenure, she faced criticism for failing to consult with Arizona’s sheriffs and border county officials regarding security strategies. Now, she asserts that Operation Desert Guardian was a close partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies, a claim some officials have contested, including Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, who stated he was previously unaware of the plan.

Once again, Governor Hobbs proves that political theater takes priority over real solutions. Her so-called “border security task force” was announced without even notifying the sheriffs who are actually on the front lines. Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot and Cochise County… https://t.co/UaGzA8rmU0

— Matt Kenney (@MattKenneyUSA) February 26, 2025