A new bill introduced in the Arkansas Senate by top Republican Sen. Bart Hester and Rep. Fran Cavenaugh aims to strengthen cooperation between state prison officials, county sheriffs, and federal immigration authorities. Senate Bill 426, known as the “Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act,” would require sheriffs to apply to participate in the Warrant Service Officer Program run by ICE, allowing them to act as ICE agents for serving warrants on individuals in county jails. Additionally, the bill would enhance penalties for unauthorized immigrants convicted of serious felonies involving violence and would ban sanctuary city policies in Arkansas.
Governor Sarah Sanders promised this legislation in her address at the start of the 2025 session, stating that it would impose harsher penalties on violent illegal immigrants in the state. The bill would target unauthorized immigrants regardless of the severity of their crimes, potentially leading to their expedited removal through the ICE program. Attorney Jeff Rosenzweig believes that the enhanced penalties based on immigration status could be upheld in court.
This bill is just one example of proposed legislation in Arkansas that aligns with Trump’s immigration policies. Other bills, such as House Bill 1789 and House Bill 1655, seek to ban cities and counties from issuing ID cards to those without proof of lawful presence in the U.S. and establish new felony offenses related to human smuggling and harboring illegal aliens. If passed, these bills could significantly impact the treatment of unauthorized immigrants in the state.
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