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Arkansas State Police report 287(g) training complete for troopers, record 48 detentions since September
Summary
Colonel Mike Hager told a legislative committee the Arkansas State Police completed 287(g) training across the force and have recorded 48 detentions since September tied primarily to arrests for other crimes; he stressed troopers act in an assisting role and must use discretion before involving federal immigration authorities.
Colonel Mike Hager, secretary of the Department of Public Safety and director of the Arkansas State Police, told a legislative committee that the agency has completed required 287(g) training for its troopers and is authorized to assist federal immigration authorities when appropriate. “We have a standing MOU with every federal agency,” Hager said, adding the 287(g) expansion gives troopers authority to detain and turn individuals over to ICE for further vetting when reasonable suspicion or probable cause exists.
The department began tracking encounters after completing the training and reported 48 detentions since September, Hager said. He emphasized the detentions typically followed contact for other criminal offenses — including pursuits, narcotics arrests and DWIs — rather than targeted immigration stops. “We’re not an immigration enforcement agency, so we are in an assisting role only on that,” Hager said.
Members pressed Hager on how officers determine immigration status during routine contacts. Hager said troopers do not have an immediate mechanism to determine immigration status at a traffic stop; officers run names and other identifiers to confirm a driver’s license or active warrants and, if identification cannot be established during a criminal detention, the jail or ICE may use biometric tools to vet identity. He said troopers have discretion and supervisors must approve participation in sensitive operations: “We’ve explained to them that we expect them to use good judgment and common sense discretion that they have under law.”
Lawmakers also asked about training costs and local participation. Hager said there was no direct fiscal impact to the state police — the training was completed within officers’ regular schedules under a 60‑day completion window — and that many local agencies are enrolled through DHS’s program, though he declined to estimate a percentage. He said counties typically track housing of federal detainees and can bill the federal government for that work; the state would similarly track hours and expenses if an approved operation required overtime or other extraordinary measures.
The committee’s discussion included concerns from members about past federal operations that led to civilian deaths in other jurisdictions; Hager said the state police would not participate in an operation without command approval and that the agency distinguishes between violent offenders and long‑term residents who have no criminal history.
The committee thanked Hager and his staff and moved to the next agenda item.
