Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Tuesday, Sept. 9, that the Arkansas National Guard will assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration enforcement in Arkansas under the Title 32 Program.
“Violent, criminal illegal immigrants have no place in Arkansas,” the governor said.“I signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act to hold these criminals accountable and slap enhanced penalties on illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes while in our state, and I look forward to our guardsmen working with the Trump Administration to enforce federal immigration law. President Trump has secured our border and is cleaning up our streets, and Arkansas stands with him every step of the way.”
Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges added that the Arkansas National Guard “stands ready to support this mission by providing requested administrative and logistical assistance to the Department of Homeland Security. Our Guardsmen are highly trained and committed to enabling federal agents to focus on their core operations.”
On May 9, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a formal Request for Assistance to the Department of Defense (DOD) for the support of National Guard personnel in carrying out ICE interior immigration enforcement activities. On July 25, DOD approved, contingent on governors’ approval within each state.
Arkansas will provide up to 40 personnel in total: 27 Air National Guard Airmen and 13 Army National Guard Soldiers. 18 will be assigned in Little Rock, 10 in Fort Smith, 10 in Fayetteville, and 2 at Camp Robinson for command and control support. These operations will be fully funded by the federal government.
Guardsmen will not be armed and will provide logistical support for detainee transport, operating or riding in a vehicle with an ICE agent who has custody of detained individuals. They will also help process detained individuals and perform clerical tasks to facilitate illegal immigrant detainment.
Sanders signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act earlier this year. The legislation enhanced penalties for illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes while in Arkansas, expanded Arkansas’ sanctuary city ban to include unincorporated areas and counties, and mandated Arkansas law enforcement participate in the 287(g) program to enhance cooperation with federal immigration officials.
Last year, Sanders sent 40 Arkansas National Guardsmen to the southern border to assist Texas law enforcement. In the summer of 2023, she sent 80 Arkansas National Guardsmen to the border and, along with state legislators, went to the border to visit those guardsmen. Sanders visited the border a second time last February with other Republican governors to highlight their efforts to help secure the border.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
