Arkansas National Guard deployment to assist ICE sparks concern among immigrant advocates

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new deployment of Arkansas National Guard troops to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is raising alarm among immigrant advocates who fear it may undermine public safety and heighten anxiety in Latino communities across the state.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Monday that 40 unarmed Guard members will be sent to ICE offices in Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville and Camp Robinson. The personnel, made up of 27 Air National Guard airmen and 13 Army National Guard soldiers, will not carry out arrests, but will provide logistical and administrative support such as transporting detainees and processing paperwork.

The move comes under Title 32 authority, a federal program activated following a Department of Homeland Security request for nationwide support in May. The Department of Defense approved the mission in July, pending individual state approval. The federal government will fund the deployment in full.

But immigrant rights leaders say the optics of National Guard troops working alongside ICE — even in a clerical role — could damage trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

“This announcement has created fear and confusion,” said Mireya Reith, founding executive director of Arkansas United, a statewide immigrant advocacy nonprofit now entering its 15th year. “Our members are asking if it’s now dangerous to simply be Hispanic in Arkansas.”

Reith said her organization has been hearing from concerned families since early summer, especially after news that several Arkansas counties had opted into ICE’s 287(g) enforcement program — which allows local law enforcement to collaborate more directly with federal immigration officials.

“There’s a real fear that racial profiling could escalate,” she said. “We want to know: will someone be pulled over just for being Hispanic? Will that be considered probable cause?”

Reith said Arkansas United has worked with immigrant communities for more than a decade, helping residents understand their legal rights and encouraging them to report crimes. She fears the deployment may reverse progress made in building community trust.

“When our members are afraid to call the police, that affects the safety of everyone,” she said.

In response, Arkansas United is seeking closed-door meetings with state lawmakers and local law enforcement to better understand how the National Guard deployment will be implemented, and to ask how officials will ensure that constitutional protections are upheld.

“Arkansas is one of 16 Republican-led states moving forward with this type of cooperation,” Reith said. “We’ve seen the National Guard involved in immigration enforcement under previous administrations, but this announcement — especially in light of recent ICE activity in places like Chicago and Washington, D.C. — makes our community feel targeted.”

Reith said that while Arkansas United has seen no evidence of large-scale raids in the state, members have reported collateral arrests and are increasingly unsure how to distinguish ICE officers from Guard troops or local authorities.

The organization continues to distribute “red cards” and “yellow cards” that explain immigrant rights and help clarify interactions with federal or local authorities.

Reith said Arkansas United remains committed to bridging immigrant communities and policymakers, but called for more transparency from the state.

“We need answers. We need to know our people are safe. If this is going to be the reality in Arkansas, then we need a seat at the table to help shape it — not just react to it.”

Dennis Lee, executive director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, echoed concerns about the current focus on enforcement over reform in a statement.

“Most of the attention seems to be on immigration enforcement,” Lee said. “We need reforms that provide legal pathways and keep families together, especially for long-time undocumented residents and ‘Dreamers.’”

Lee cited a January 2025 report from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops titled Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform, which calls for policy changes rooted in Catholic social teaching.

Instead of “disrupting communities with ICE enforcement that goes beyond targeting violent criminals,” Lee said, Arkansas and the nation should consider “reform measures that provide stability to our communities.”

The Arkansas National Guard deployment is expected to begin in the coming weeks.