Most immigration detentions reported by Arkansas State Police began as traffic violations
A significant presence of Arkansas State Police officers in Springdale this week could put community members at risk for deportation.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Community groups raised questions about operational intent after a significantly increased Arkansas State Police (ASP) presence in Springdale beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Springdale Police Chief Derek Wright said in a Wednesday email to community leaders, obtained by Arkansas GRITA, that Springdale Police Department (SPD) is conducting "a planned saturation patrol" this week with the assistance of ASP. According to Chief Wright, the operation has been planned since late last year.
Multiple posts on a local Facebook ICE Watch group reported an increase in state troopers and unmarked police vehicles on major state highways in Springdale, one of the most diverse cities in Arkansas.
SPD is the lead agency on the saturation patrol and "are not investigating immigration status on our stops or contacts," Wright said. He said that the patrol is targeting "issues like human and drug trafficking; traffic related complaints like reckless driving, impaired driving, and speeding; and transnational organized crime groups."
But most ASP officers are deputized with immigration enforcement powers under a 287(g) partnership with the Department of Homeland Security. ASP participates under the Task Force Model, which allows trained local law enforcement officers to carry out immigration enforcement during routine policing activities, such as traffic stops or patrols, under ICE supervision. Arkansas GRITA has obtained evidence indicating that ASP uses routine traffic stops to detain individuals, regardless of their existing criminal record.
Read: What is 287(g) and how does it work in Arkansas?
Last month, ASP director Col. Mike Hagar told state legislators that 48 people had been held on immigration detainers since September as a result of ASP's 287(g) participation. When asked by Sen. Terry Wright if they were "going out and seeking more than people with criminal charges," Hagar said that troopers are expected to "use good judgment and common sense discretion that they have under the law."
A report provided to Arkansas GRITA by ASP via a Freedom of Information Act request shows that of 39 calls from ASP resulting in "ICE detainees" since September 15, 2025, 29 (or 74%) were categorized as traffic stops. (The report includes other calls that may or may not have resulted in detentions). Further, additional incident reports obtained via FOIA show at least one officer texting ICE officers about an individual's status after stopping them for minor infractions including "driving continuously in the left lane." Such traffic stops sometimes resulted in the detention of passengers even if the individual did not have a warrant or order of removal.
One report shows that an ASP trooper pulled a Guatemalan man over because his “turn signal that illuminated was white and not amber.” The man told police he was on his way to see his wife in Denton, Texas. But the trooper texted ICE the man’s Guatemalan identification and detained him.
In November 2025, “a steady illuminated blue light in the grill” of a truck resulted in the detention of multiple passengers.
Others were detained after their vehicles broke down on the side of the road, or while walking on the side of the highway.
Relevant incident reports are provided below. Arkansas GRITA has redacted identifying information for individuals who were detained. GRITA redactions appear in yellow, while redactions in black are from Arkansas State Police.
Neither Arkansas State Police nor the Springdale Police Department responded to multiple requests for comment.
The Arkansas Alliance for Immigration Respect and Education (AIRE) posted to social media on Wednesday afternoon encouraging caution while driving or traveling through Springdale.