Northwest Arkansas has become a focal point for the Trump administration's intensified efforts against illegal immigration, driven by a close partnership between one county and federal authorities.
A County at the Heart of Immigration Enforcement
According to an Associated Press analysis of data from the University of California Berkeley Deportation Data Project, more than 450 individuals were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Benton County Jail between 1st January and 15th October 2025. This equates to over 1.5 arrests per day in a county with an approximate population of 300,000.
The vast majority of these arrests were facilitated by the county's 287(g) agreement. This programme, named for a section of US immigration law, authorises county deputies to interrogate individuals booked into the jail about their immigration status. The data reveals Benton County's operations were responsible for more than 4% of the roughly 7,000 arrests attributed to similar schemes across the nation in the first nine and a half months of the year.
How the Programme Operates and Expands
Under the 287(g) framework, deputies notify ICE of inmates suspected of being in the United States unlawfully. These individuals are typically held without bond before being transferred into ICE custody, often moved to a detention centre in Fayetteville and subsequently to facilities in Louisiana facing potential deportation.
The charges against those handed to ICE varied significantly. Approximately half had been convicted of crimes, while the other half had charges pending. Jail records indicate recent ICE holds included people arrested for offences ranging from forgery and sexual assault to drug trafficking, theft, and public intoxication. Domestic violence and unsafe driving were among the most common charges.
This programme is expanding rapidly across the United States. ICE now reports over 1,180 cooperation agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, a dramatic increase from 135 at the start of the current administration. The growth is especially notable in Republican-led states like Florida, which have enacted laws encouraging such cooperation. Earlier in 2025, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation mandating county sheriffs cooperate with ICE.
Community Fear and Personal Hardship
The enforcement surge has instilled profound fear within immigrant communities across northwest Arkansas. Residents born abroad report being afraid to drive, regardless of their legal status. Many now limit excursions to essential work trips, opt for grocery delivery, and avoid leisure activities.
One 73-year-old Venezuelan man described his apartment as "a kind of jail," fearing arrest and deportation if he ventures outside. The fear is particularly acute in areas like Springdale, a heavily Latino city spanning Benton and Washington counties, despite local police departments stating they have no direct affiliation with the 287(g) programme.
The human cost is illustrated by cases like that of Cristina Osornio. The 35-year-old permanent legal resident, who has lived in the US since she was three months old, was detained for four days on an ICE hold after a traffic stop in September. She was released without explanation. Her husband, who entered the country illegally, was not as fortunate. Arrested in a misdemeanour domestic violence case last year, he was transferred to ICE custody in January 2025 and has since been deported to Mexico, devastating the family financially and emotionally.
As these local-federal partnerships proliferate, offering financial incentives for cooperation, northwest Arkansas serves as a stark example of the widespread enforcement and community anxiety they can produce.
