Ariz. Gov. Ducey unveils 26 state strike force to secure southern border

April 20, 2022 Amber Coakley US 0

FILE – In this Dec. 2, 2020, file photo, Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey answers a question during a news conference in Phoenix.

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UPDATED 1:36 PM PT – Wednesday, April 20, 2022

More than two dozen Republican governors are promising to secure the southern border with a coordinated strike force. On Tuesday in the border community of Douglas, Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey (R) announced the creation of the 26 state American Governors Border Strike Force. The group’s mission is to stop illegal drug and human smuggling at the southern border.

The strike force, which includes Texas, Alabama and Florida, will improve intelligence sharing and analysis of state level crimes that may be connected to border security. Additionally, the multi-state effort will monitor cyber security issues, target cartel finances that fund criminal activity in the border regions and improve efforts to combat drug trafficking on the nation’s southernmost cross country highway.

Today I have joined 25 of my fellow Governors in forming the American Governors’ Border Strike Force.
Wyoming will continue to offer support to our southern border while the Biden Administration sits idly by and fails to take action on this crisis. https://t.co/V75sFuY8WB

— Governor Mark Gordon (@GovernorGordon) April 19, 2022

Governor Ducey stressed that if the southern border is not secure, the rest of America is not either.

“The border problem just isn’t in the four border states,” he stated, “There are kids ODing on fentanyl all over our country, in schools and neighborhoods. It’s one of the leading causes of death. People that are addicted, people that are looking for a cheap high and that’s coming over our southern border. But it’s happening in small towns and rural communities in the interior. That’s what the Border Strike Force is: to share information, stop the cartels and stop the human trafficking.”

The Arizona governor suggested federal agencies must step forward with local law enforcement. In the meantime, he said the Biden administration must do their part to crack down on the crisis they created.

President Biden has failed to secure the border, so Republican Governors are launching a Border Strike Force to secure our communities.

South Dakota has sent National Guard to the border. We will continue partnering with other states to protect our people. https://t.co/gNSMj4ji6m

— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) April 19, 2022

Earlier this week, Customs and Border Protection reported migrant crossings are at the highest level in two decades. They noted, nearly two dozen suspected terrorists were caught at the border last year.