Two of the most highly publicized first initiatives of President Donald Trump’s second term in office are beginning to be directly felt inside the borders of the Natural State as activities by ICE and DOGE in Arkansas have been reported in recent days.
IMMIGRATION ARRESTS MADE ACROSS 23 COUNTIES
On Feb. 27, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for both the Eastern District and Western District of Arkansas announced 219 undocumented immigrants had been arrested over the preceding three weeks. In addition to the arrests, this round of activity also seized nearly 15,000 pounds of illegal drugs worth millions of dollars and 43 guns.
The enforcement operation, which commenced Feb. 5, processed 127 individuals through the ICE Enforcement and Removal office in Little Rock; 57 through the Fayetteville office; 23 through the Fort Smith office; and 17 through the Texarkana office.
In total, 375 illegals have been reportedly arrested in Arkansas since President Donald Trump issued executive orders designed to prioritize the enforcement of immigration laws on Jan. 21.
Per a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the latest group of individuals had had previous encounters with law enforcement and therefore had known addresses in various databases. Some offenders were previously convicted of crimes, while others had some type of prior contact with law enforcement, and all were in the country illegally and will be deported.
Crimes which some of the arrested individuals were previously convicted of include battery, aggravated assault, robbery, drug possession and distribution, domestic violence, sexual assault, illegal firearm possession, running an illegal casino, forgery, hit-and-run, indecent exposure and sexual assault against a minor.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Arkansas, along with each of our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to prioritize working with ICE to aggressively enforce the immigration and drug-and-violent crime laws enacted by Congress,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas via a release.
“When these efforts are combined with our partnerships with our outstanding state and local law enforcement officials, we are confident that this first operation will lead to additional successful operations in the days ahead.”
Agencies involved in the raids included Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service in addition to the state’s Drug Task Forces and Arkansas State Police.
DOGE TO CANCEL $3.5M IN ARKANSAS CONTRACTS
On March 4, the Department of Government Efficiency announced plans to terminate more than a dozen real estate leases across Arkansas in a bid to save what it projects will be more than $3.5 million over the next five years.
The action affects leases on property in nine Arkansas cities with four leases located in Batesville and Little Rock each. The largest annual contracts on the list are held by the Social Security Administration in Forrest City at $388,000 and the U.S. Geological Survey in Little Rock at $352,000.
DOGE reports the largest savings by the terminations after five years will be realized from the Small Business Administration lease in Little Rock at $1.2 million and the National Park Service lease in Harrison at $601,000. Leases held by Agricultural Marketing Service in Little Rock will save $429,000 over that time and leases held by Farm Service Agency-County in Paragould and Rural Housing Service in Batesville will save $255,000 each.
To date, DOGE reports nearly 750 leases across the country have been canceled, saving taxpayers $660 million. The proposed cuts in Arkansas include:
BATESVILLE
- Farm Service Agency, proposed money saved is $43,365
- Natural Resources Conservation Service annual lease costs $22,050, proposed money saved $110,250.
- Rural Housing Service annual lease costs $51,045, proposed money saved $255,225
- Social Security Administration annual lease costs $29,010, proposed money saved $145,050
FAYETTEVILLE
- Employment Standards Administration annual lease costs $11,096, proposed money saved $55,480
FORREST CITY
- Social Security Administration annual lease costs $387,856, proposed money saved $32,321
HARRISON
- National Park Service proposed money saved is $601,073
JONESBORO
- Social Security Administration annual lease costs $64,998, proposed money saved $194,995
LITTLE ROCK
- Agricultural Marketing Service annual lease costs $85,875, proposed money saved $429,375
- Geological Survey annual lease costs $351,510, proposed money saved $0
- Small Business Administration annual lease cost $316,603, proposed money saved $1,160,878
- United States Trustees annual lease costs $119,943, proposed money saved $49,976
PARAGOULD
- Farm Service Agency annual lease costs $105,549, proposed money saved $255,077
TEXARKANA
- Social Security Administration annual lease costs $25,643, proposed money saved $36,328
SOURCE: Department of Government Efficiency
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