Arkansas National Guard to Assist ICE in Immigration Enforcement Under Title 32 Program

Strategic Insights -

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the deployment of up to 40 Arkansas National Guard members to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in apprehending migrants at risk of deportation under the federal Title 32 program. The Guardsmen will be assigned to various locations in central Arkansas, including Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and North Little Rock, and will provide support to ICE agents without being armed. This initiative is part of a larger effort by Governor Sanders to address immigration issues in the state.

Key Takeaways:

  • Up to 40 Arkansas National Guard members will be deployed to assist ICE in immigration enforcement under the Title 32 program.
  • 18 Guardsmen will be assigned in Little Rock, 10 in Fort Smith, 10 in Fayetteville, and 2 at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock.
  • Guardsmen will not be armed and will assist ICE agents in transporting, processing, and detaining individuals lacking permanent legal status.
  • The Guardsmen involved in the initiative have Title 32 status, meaning they are federally funded but serve under the command of the Governor of their state or territory.
  • The initiative has been met with criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, which calls it an "abuse of power that jeopardizes Arkansans' rights and safety."
  • Governor Sanders has previously deployed National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas and has signed a law requiring Arkansas law enforcement agencies to participate in ICE's 287(g) program.
  • The Arkansas National Guard has formally requested authority to make immigration arrests under the "task force model" of the 287(g) program.

Statistics:

  • Up to 40 Arkansas National Guard members will be deployed to assist ICE.
  • 18 Guardsmen will be assigned in Little Rock.
  • 10 Guardsmen will be assigned in each of Fort Smith and Fayetteville.
  • 2 Guardsmen will be assigned at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock.
  • Governor Sanders has previously deployed 80 National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas in 2023 and 40 the following year.
  • Other Republican governors have made similar efforts to support federal immigration authorities.

Sources:

  • Sanders, S. H. (2022). News release: Sanders announces Arkansas National Guard to assist ICE with immigration enforcement in Arkansas. Retrieved from [https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/sanders-announces-arkansas-national-guard-to-assist-ice-with-immigration-enforcement-in-arkansas/?emci=3be9dd26-8e8d-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&emdi=66259f93-ae8d-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&ceid=4032861](https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/sanders-announces-arkansas-national-guard-to-assist-ice-with-immigration-enforcement-in-arkansas/?emci=3be9dd26-8e8d-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&emdi=66259f93-ae8d-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&ceid=4032861)
  • Arkansas National Guard. (n.d.). Fact Sheet: Duty Status Reference. Retrieved from [https://www.nationalguard.mil/Portals/31/Resources/Fact%20Sheets/NGB-Fact-Sheet-Duty-Status-Reference-FINAL.pdf](https://www.nationalguard.mil/Portals/31/Resources/Fact%20Sheets/NGB-Fact-Sheet-Duty-Status-Reference-FINAL.pdf)
  • Dickson, H. (n.d.). News release: ACLU of Arkansas criticizes Governor Sanders' immigration enforcement plan. Retrieved from [https://arkansasadvocate.com/subscribe](https://arkansasadvocate.com/subscribe)
  • Sanders, S. H. (2023). News release: Arkansas sending 80 National Guardsmen to Southern U.S. border to assist Texas. Retrieved from [https://arkansasadvocate.com/2023/06/01/arkansas-sending-80-national-guard-soldiers-to-southern-u-s-border-to-assist-texas/](https://arkansasadvocate.com/2023/06/01/arkansas-sending-80-national-guard-soldiers-to-southern-u-s-border-to-assist-texas/)
  • Arkansas Legislature. (2025). Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act. Retrieved from [https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SB426&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&Search=](https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SB426&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&Search=)