PHOENIX — Two Arizona sheriffs on Wednesday shared stories about how rising crime along the border is impacting their communities.

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and Yuma County Sheriff Leon Willmott presented lawmakers with the challenges they face every day during a joint special session.

“The ultimate goal is any information about things that we deal with on a daily basis,” Sheriff Willmott said.

Sheriff Dannels said authorities also seized 373,000 fentanyl pills in the county last week. He also said the county has seen an increase in cases involving smugglers.

Dannels said there have been more than 2,800 arrests in county jails for border-related crimes in the past two years, about 44% of all bookings.

“I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. [..] I haven't seen this board in 40 years and now it's the ugliest thing I've ever seen,” Dannels said.

Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot called on lawmakers to pressure the federal government to reform asylum laws and increase reimbursement costs for incarcerating people living in the area illegally.

“We need to look at addressing the problem from a geographic perspective, not just broad brushstroke solutions, because there just isn't one,” Willmott said.

When the Lukeville Port of Entry closed in December and migrant numbers hit record numbers, Gov. Katie Hobbs sent the Arizona National Guard to help because the federal government didn't issue an order.

Dannels said the National Guard helped set up the jail and surveillance cameras.

“We made additional requests for him to come back to the prison to help us,” Dannels said.

Sheriffs said they are grateful for state funding, including the $16 million proposed for border measures in Hobbs' new budget.

Still, they argue that increasing funding for local law enforcement agencies is a key part of expanding their efforts.

“The more money we put in, the more effort we put into it, the more lives we save. So where is the price?” Dannels said.