Arkansas
ICE, DOGE Efforts Reach Arkansas
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 $3.5B 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
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- 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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CORNING, Ark. (KATV) — Regulatory Enforcement Agents with the Department of Finance and Administration, along with local police, seized a significant amount of illegal THC products from Pacific Green in Corning on Tuesday.
According to the DFA, more than a dozen agents joined the City of Corning Police in the day-long operation that resulted in two arrests.
DFA agents seized more than 25 pounds of illegal products consisting of flower, vapes, and edibles.
Owner Ben Bennett and employee Sharia Shipman were arrested and both charged with the following:
- Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Class D Felony)
- Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B Felony)
- Controlled substances – Offenses relating to records, maintaining premises (Class C Felony)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D Felony)
- Unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes (Class C Felony)
Bennett’s bond was set at $150,000, while Shipman’s bond was set at $100,000.
“In addition to selling illegal products, investigators confirmed violations involving underage access at this location,” said David Potter, Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division. “This retailer, which was located within 1,000 feet of a school, presented significant public health and safety concerns. We are proud to partner with the Corning Police Department in addressing these violations. We seized a substantial quantity of illegal products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and other items, during the operation. We appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement and information received from the community that led to yesterday’s operation and stopped this blatant disregard of the law.”
Note: All suspects accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
The Department of Finance and Administration said Arkansans can use Apple Wallet to present their license or ID in person, online and in apps at select organizations, including at more than 250 Transportation Security
IDEMIA Public Security North America and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles have launched Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, allowing residents to securely store and use their credentials on an iPhone or Apple Watch.
The new feature gives Arkansans the ability to present their identification at participating businesses and venues, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports, and online or within apps when age or identity verification is required.
The launch builds on Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to expand digital identification options. In March 2025, the state introduced the Arkansas Mobile ID app, and officials say adding IDs to Apple Wallet offers residents another secure and convenient way to access their credentials.
“We’re proud to build on our partnership with the Arkansas DFA’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles, expanding on the launch of the Arkansas Mobile ID app in March 2025. The launch of ID in Apple Wallet in the state provides Arkansas residents a new, secure way to store and present their digital credentials, with transparency and control over how their information is shared at the forefront,” said Rob Gardner, CEO, IDEMIA Civil Identity.
To add an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, users can tap the plus sign at the top of the Wallet app on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the verification process.
Officials say privacy and security were central considerations in the rollout. Information stored in Apple Wallet is encrypted on a user’s device, and users control when and how their information is shared. When presenting an ID, only the information necessary to verify age or identity is provided.
Apple and the Arkansas Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles also do not receive information about when or where residents use their digital IDs.
The technology is also designed to make verification easier for businesses. Participating businesses can use IDEMIA’s Mobile ID Verify app to accept and verify mobile IDs directly from an iPhone without requiring customers to hand over their devices or use additional hardware.
The launch marks another step toward broader adoption of digital credentials in Arkansas, giving residents a secure alternative to carrying a physical driver’s license or state ID while maintaining control over their personal information.
For information on the launch of IDs in Apple Wallet in Arkansas, click here.
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