Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is drawing national attention with plans to activate the National Guard to aid in immigration enforcement. This initiative is set to take center stage when Sanders reveals her strategy on Tuesday. It aims to mobilize a contingent of Guardsmen as part of the deportation process for illegal immigrants apprehended in the state.
During her time as White House press secretary, Sanders gained recognition as a staunch supporter of former President Trump and his immigration policies. “Violent, criminal illegal immigrants have no place in Arkansas,” Sanders stated, emphasizing her commitment to public safety. She previously signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act, a measure designed to impose tougher penalties on illegal immigrants engaging in criminal activity. The Governor is vocal about her intent to collaborate with the Trump Administration to ensure federal immigration laws are enforced vigorously.
Sanders noted that the National Guard will operate under Title 32 powers granted by the Department of Homeland Security. This arrangement allows Guardsmen to remain under her command while being funded by federal resources. Brigadier General Chad Bridges of the Arkansas National Guard confirmed the commitment to assist, stating that the Guardsmen are prepared to focus on core operations related to this mission.
The deployment plan includes 40 Guardsmen from Fort Smith, Little Rock, and Fayetteville. Their roles will be primarily logistical, involving the transportation and clerical aspects of detaining illegal immigrants. They will be unarmed, with the aim to free up federal agents to concentrate on the pressing task of apprehending those who pose significant threats.
To reinforce her stance, Sanders highlighted recent arrests of violent illegal immigrants within Arkansas. Instances that underscore her points include the arrest of Luis Danielle Valdez-Reyes, charged with assaulting a state trooper, and Elias Avila-Bustillo, who was wanted in El Salvador for gang-related activities. The impact of illegal immigration has been personal for some Arkansas residents, notably the family of Jennifer Ann Morton, who was fatally struck in a DUI incident allegedly involving an illegal immigrant.
In her efforts to bolster state immigration policies, Sanders has expanded prohibitions against sanctuary cities beyond urban areas to include rural locales as well. This approach illustrates a clear intention to deter illegal immigration across the state, regardless of local governance.
In summary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders is taking bold steps to address illegal immigration in Arkansas by involving the National Guard in deportation efforts. Her commitment to law enforcement and public safety remains a focal point of her administration as she aligns closely with established federal immigration policies from the Trump era.
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