Tucson Field Office

Emergency Closure within sixty feet of the international boundary adjacent to the San Rafael State Natural Area in Santa Cruz County, Arizona 09/16/2026–03/16/2027

EMERGENCY CLOSURE ORDER 

Bureau of Land Management Arizona

EMERGENCY CLOSURE of certain lands within sixty feet of the international boundary adjacent to the San Rafael State Natural Area in Santa Cruz County, Arizona September 16, 2026

Action: Pursuant to Section 303 (a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733 (a)), 43 CFR 9268.3(d) and 43 CFR 8364.1, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides notice that effective September 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., Federal lands described below are closed to all forms of public access and entry. This closure is for public safety in relation to critical border security activities being conducted along the United States and Mexico Border.

Affected Area: The approximately 29.1-acre area from approximately east of Border Monument 110 to near Border Monument 112 which encompasses an area sixty feet wide and four miles long in Santa Cruz County, Arizona (see attached map).

Gila-Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 24 S., R. 17 E.,
sec. 21, lots 1 thru 4;
sec. 22, lots 3 thru 6;
sec. 23, lots 1, 2, 5 and 6;
sec. 24, lots 5 thru 8.

The area described above contains approximately 29.1 acres, derived from GIS data on file with the BLM Arizona State Office.

Prohibitions: For public safety, in relation to critical border security activities along the United States and Mexico Border, all human entry within the 29.1 acre near the United States and Mexico Border is prohibited.

Dates: This closure is effective beginning at 5:00 p.m. on September 16, 2026, and will remain in effect until 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2027, at such time as conditions allow for safe use of the public lands.

Supplemental Information: The following persons are exempt from the provisions of this Order:

1. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized medical, rescue or firefighting force engaged in fire, emergency, or law enforcement activities.
2. Individuals involved in the construction and or support of the construction of the barrier.
3. BLM employees, contractors, or agents engaged in official duties.
4. Individuals operating within the scope of their official and legitimate governmental duties.
5. Parties who carry written approval signed by the BLM Authorized Officer allowing access to the described public lands.

Penalties: Any person who violates this Order may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3571, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Vehicles found in violation of this order may be removed.

Effective: This Order is effective beginning at 5:00 p.m. on September 16, 2026, through 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2027.

Signed by:
/s/ Lance R. Brady, Gila District Manager, 09/16/2026

 

View a PDF of this map.

The BLM Tucson Field Office manages more than 600,000 acres of desert, mountains, and grasslands within five southeastern Arizona counties and shares the international border with Mexico.

The field office is responsible for stewardship of three National Landscape Conservation System units: San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Las Cienegas National Conservation Area,  Ironwood Forest National Monument, four wilderness areas, 63 miles of river suitable for Wild and Scenic River designation and the Gila River Canyons passage of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The Tucson Field Office also oversees six properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and seven Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.

Public lands within the Tucson Field Office also provide excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation including world-renowned birding along the San Pedro River. The San Pedro Project Office shares offices with the U.S. Forest Service in Hereford.

San Pedro Project Office
4070 South Avenida Saracino
Hereford, AZ  85615

The Tucson Field Office is part of the BLM Gila District and shares office space at 3201 East Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 85756.