A new bill from Arkansas aims to limit illegal immigration in the state by expanding the state’s sanctuary city ban and allowing law enforcement to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The bill, called Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act, is sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester and Representative Frances Cavenaugh.
“President Trump made border security one of his top priorities and in just a few months, he has done what President Biden refused to and nearly eliminated illegal border crossings,” Governor Sarah Sanders said in a statement. “The Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act makes it clear: Arkansas will not tolerate violent, criminal illegals and will do our part to help the Trump administration keep our citizens safe.”
“This legislation will enhance penalties for illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes while in Arkansas, expand Arkansas’ sanctuary city ban to include unincorporated areas and counties, and mandate Arkansas law enforcement participate in the 287(g) program to expedite deportations and enhance cooperation with federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials,” a press release explains.
Border czar Tom Homan announced this week that the Trump administration has arrested an estimated 40,000 illegal immigrants.
“We’re gonna enforce immigration law. Unlike the last administration … they told ICE agents, immigration officers, you cannot arrest an illegal alien for simply being here illegally. Here’s the executive branch rewriting statute,” Homan said during an event in Florida. “They told ICE officers you can’t enforce the law; unless they’re convicted of a serious crime, you can’t arrest them. Well, that garbage is over with!”
“If you’re in a country illegally, you got a problem,” he continued. “Now we’re gonna prioritize public safety threats first, and that’s what we’re doing. But it’s not OK to be in this country illegally. It’s against the law. It’s not OK to cross the border illegally.”
