Sanders deploys Arkansas National Guard to Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Little Rock to help ICE

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the Arkansas National Guard will assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in enforcing immigration laws within the state. The deployment includes 27 airmen and 13 soldiers, allocated to Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, and Camp Robinson. Guardsmen will support ICE by processing detainees and handling clerical tasks, while accompanying agents in vehicles, but they will not carry weapons. This initiative stems from a July request approved by the federal Department of Defense for National Guards to assist ICE nationwide. The announcement has sparked discussions about the implications of utilizing state military resources for immigration enforcement.

Critics may question the appropriateness and effectiveness of this approach, especially in a state with diverse communities. Local officials in Fayetteville have redirected inquiries to the governor's office, highlighting the local impact of this decision. The deployment aims to bolster ICE's operational capabilities amid ongoing discussions about immigration policies at the federal level.