Little Rock, Arkansas – In a move aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement within the state, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that Arkansas will deploy National Guard troops to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations under the federal Title 32 Program. The deployment follows a formal request from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Department of Defense (DOD) earlier this year, which was approved on July 25, pending each state’s authorization.
Governor Sanders emphasized the importance of addressing criminal activity linked to undocumented individuals. “Violent, criminal illegal immigrants have no place in Arkansas,” she stated. “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.”
Under the approved plan, Arkansas will provide a total of 40 personnel: 27 Air National Guard Airmen and 13 Army National Guard Soldiers. Their deployment locations include Little Rock (18 personnel), Fort Smith (10), Fayetteville (10), and Camp Robinson (2), where command and control operations will be based. The federal government will fully fund the operation.
Guardsmen to Provide Logistical and Administrative Support
Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas’ adjutant general, confirmed that the deployed troops will not be armed and will instead serve in support roles to enhance ICE’s operational efficiency. “The Arkansas National Guard stands ready to support this mission by providing requested administrative and logistical assistance to the Department of Homeland Security,” said Bridges. “Our Guardsmen are highly trained and committed to enabling federal agents to focus on their core operations.”
Duties for the Arkansas National Guard will include transporting detainees, riding with ICE agents who are responsible for individuals in custody, processing detained persons, and performing clerical tasks to expedite enforcement procedures. The support aims to allow ICE personnel to prioritize frontline duties in high-impact areas across the state.
The announcement builds upon recent legislative efforts led by Governor Sanders to combat criminal activity among undocumented populations. Earlier this year, she signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act, which enhanced penalties for illegal immigrants who commit crimes in Arkansas, expanded the state’s ban on sanctuary jurisdictions to include counties and unincorporated areas, and mandated participation in the federal 287(g) program to improve coordination with immigration authorities.
Federal and State Efforts Mark Decline in Border Crossings
The Governor’s announcement comes amid broader national efforts under President Donald Trump’s administration to curb illegal immigration. In his first month back in office, illegal border crossings reportedly dropped to 8,300 in February 2025—a dramatic 94% decrease from the 140,641 reported the previous year. President Trump also declared a national emergency at the southern border on his first day back in office.
In recent months, Arkansas law enforcement has dealt with multiple high-profile incidents involving undocumented individuals. In January, Arkansas State Police arrested Luis Danielle Valdez-Reyes, a violent illegal immigrant who allegedly assaulted a state trooper. In November, officers arrested Elias Avila Bustillo, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador wanted for gang ties in his home country. Governor Sanders also joined officers in mourning the death of Little Rock nurse Jennifer Ann Morton, who was killed by a drunk driver identified as undocumented immigrant Maynor Yair Sorto-Herrera.
Ongoing National Guard Engagement on Immigration
This is not the first time Arkansas has sent National Guard personnel to support immigration enforcement. In 2023, Governor Sanders dispatched 80 guardsmen to the southern border to assist Texas law enforcement and visited them in person. She sent another 40 in a separate deployment and returned to the border in February alongside other Republican governors to highlight state-led efforts addressing what they viewed as federal inaction.
Through the newly announced partnership with ICE, Arkansas is expanding its role in national immigration enforcement and pledging continued support for what state leaders consider a critical public safety issue.
