A large-scale collaborative law enforcement operation in Arkansas, dubbed “Operation Enforce and Remove,” has resulted in the arrest of 219 illegal immigrants over the past three weeks. This operation marks the most extensive effort to enforce federal immigration laws in the state’s history.
The operation, spearheaded by U.S. Attorneys Jonathan D. Ross (Eastern District of Arkansas) and Clay Fowlkes (Western District of Arkansas), involved a wide range of federal, state, and local agencies, including:
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Arkansas State Police
- All 19 Arkansas Judicial Drug Task Forces
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The operation focused on arresting and removing illegal immigrants who had prior encounters with law enforcement, including those with criminal convictions and those who had been previously deported. The individuals arrested came from 23 different countries and had convictions for crimes ranging from drug offenses and assault to sexual assault and illegal firearm possession.
“We will continue to use every tool and resource available to identify, locate and apprehend those criminal aliens that threaten public safety,” stated Larry Adams, ICE Assistant Field Office Director.
In addition to immigration enforcement, the operation led to the arrest of 253 individuals suspected of drug crimes. Officers seized large amounts of illegal drugs, including:
- 225 pounds of methamphetamine
- 65 pounds of cocaine
- 14,542 pounds of marijuana
- 2,681 fentanyl pills and 90 grams of fentanyl powder
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The street value of these drugs is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Authorities also seized 43 firearms during the operation.
This operation is part of a broader effort to increase immigration enforcement in Arkansas, following executive orders issued by President Trump in January. Since then, a total of 375 illegal immigrants have been arrested in the state.
U.S. Attorneys Ross and Fowlkes emphasized the importance of these efforts in combating illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations, and the opioid epidemic. They stressed their commitment to working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law.
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