Research Note Researched

Arkansas Act 654 — First state to mandate universal 287(g) for all sheriffs

Overview

Arkansas Act 654 — the “Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act” — signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in April 2025, is one of the most aggressive state-level immigration enforcement laws in the country. It mandates all county sheriffs who maintain detention centers apply for 287(g) partnerships with ICE, making Arkansas among the first states to require universal local participation in federal immigration enforcement. The law also expanded the state’s sanctuary city ban to include counties and unincorporated areas.

This law is the structural driver behind Arkansas’s explosion from a handful of 287(g) agreements to 40 state and local agencies with ICE cooperation agreements.

Key Provisions

Mandatory 287(g) Participation

All county sheriffs with detention centers must apply for the ICE Warrant Service Officer (WSO) program
Sheriffs may alternatively choose the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM)
Arkansas Division of Correction also required to participate (signed JEM MOA Dec 2, 2025)
Arkansas State Police and National Guard volunteered separately (not required by the law)

Enhanced Sanctuary Ban

Builds on existing state-level ban on “sanctuary cities”
Extends the ban to counties and unincorporated areas
Effectively closes the loophole where rural areas could decline cooperation

Enhanced Criminal Penalties

Increased penalties for unauthorized immigrants convicted of “serious felonies involving violence” (murder, battery, aggravated assault)

Legislative History

Senate Bill 426, introduced March 11, 2025
Sponsored by GOP legislators
Signed by Governor Sanders April 2025
Took effect under standard timeline

Impact

Before Act 654

A handful of Arkansas agencies had 287(g) agreements (Benton County, Craighead County were early adopters)
Roughly 135 agreements nationwide at start of new administration

After Act 654

40 state and local agencies in Arkansas now have ICE cooperation agreements
38 active 287(g) MOAs in the state
Arkansas accounts for a disproportionate share of the national 287(g) expansion
The law created the framework for the 2,600+ arrests in 2025

National Significance

Act 654 represents a template that other Republican-controlled states could follow. By mandating 287(g) participation rather than leaving it voluntary, Arkansas eliminated the possibility of local officials declining to cooperate — even in diverse communities like Springdale that would prefer not to participate. The only escape valve is for city police (not sheriffs) to minimize actual enforcement despite formal compliance.

Sources

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