LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Forty guardsmen with the Arkansas National Guard were deployed on Monday, April 1 to aid the Texas National Guard combat illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking at the southern border.
The departure ceremony took place at 9 a.m. on Monday at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center near Barling, Arkansas as the 40 guardsmen are set to spend 60 days supporting the Texas National Guard.
Back in March, Gov. Sanders officially directed the Arkansas National Guard to send soldiers to the southern border to support the Texas National Guard as they work to combat illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
The selected guardsmen reported to Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center on March 28 where they underwent administrative processing, medical readiness screenings, first aid training, and pre-deployment checks and inspections.
The 40 guardsmen will serve along the nation’s border with Mexico from April 1 through May 30th. According to officials, the Texas National Guard will remain the lead agency in charge while those from Arkansas guardsmen will remain under Governor Sanders' orders.
Gov. Sanders previously visited the border in July of 2023 to show her support for the Arkansas Guardsmen deployed there, and then again on February 4, 2024, along with 14 other governors to show their state's support for Texas.
While 40 guardsmen were sent today to support Texas, last year 80 guardsmen with the Arkansas National Guard were deployed to Texas on state active duty from June 24 through August 5 in order to support Operation Lonestar — performing lookout and observation post duties.