Sanders Announces Arkansas National Guard to Assist ICE with Immigration Enforcement in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced 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," said Governor Sanders. "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."

"The Arkansas National Guard stands ready to support this mission by providing requested administrative and logistical assistance to the Department of Homeland Security," said Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas' adjutant general. "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.

Governor Sarah Huckabee 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.

In President Trump's first month back in office, illegal border crossings hit record lows, falling to 8,300 in February 2025, down 94% from the 140,641 encountered a year prior. President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border on his first day back in office.

In January, Arkansas State Police (ASP) arrested Luis Danielle Valdez-Reyes, a violent illegal immigrant who was on the run after striking an Arkansas State Trooper. In November, Arkansas State Police arrested Elias Avila Bustillo, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador wanted in his home country for illegal gang association. Governor Sanders joined Arkansas State Police in September to mourn the death of Little Rock nurse Jennifer Ann Morton, who was killed in a drunk driving accident by illegal immigrant Maynor Yair Sorto-Herrera.

Last year, Governor Sanders sent 40 Arkansas National Guardsmen to the southern border to assist Texas law enforcement. In the summer of 2023, Governor Sanders sent 80 Arkansas National Guardsmen to the border and, along with state legislators, went to the border to visit those guardsmen. In response to President Biden's failure to secure the southern border, Governor Sanders visited the border a second time last February with other Republican Governors to highlight their efforts to help secure the border.

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