Arkansas National Guard deploying to Washington D.C.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved the deployment of about 100 Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers to the nation’s capital to support the D.C. National Guard’s ongoing civil security operations. 

The monthslong deployment, which is a federally funded mission, is part of a “routine rotational relief” of National Guard units currently assigned to the mission, according to a Monday press release from the governor’s office. 

The soldiers are from the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, and they will conduct security presence patrols and provide law enforcement support in designated areas, according to the release. 

“These Guardsmen bring exceptional training, discipline, and professionalism,” Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, adjutant general of Arkansas, said in a statement. “They will be well-prepared and ready to integrate with the D.C. National Guard and accomplish the mission.”

The Arkansas soldiers will assemble at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling in the coming weeks to complete administrative processing, medical and dental readiness screening, pre-mobilization training and mission-specific preparation, according to the release. The soldiers will move to D.C. following the Thanksgiving holiday. The mission is projected to last several months.

In response to Monday’s announcement, the ACLU of Arkansas issued a statement calling on the governor to address issues in Arkansas.

“At a time when so many Arkansas families are struggling with food insecurity, rising costs, and underfunded public services, our leaders should be focused on meeting needs here at home — not sending resources away for political spectacle,” the statement reads. “The people of Arkansas deserve real investments in safety, stability, and opportunity — not distractions from the challenges our communities face every day.”

President Donald Trump mobilized 800 troops in Washington in August, citing a “crime emergency.” He has since attempted to deploy National Guard and other military personnel to several cities, mostly ones with Democratic mayors.

Monday’s announcement comes about a month after more than 100 Arkansas National Guardsmen were mobilized to the southern border to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The 13-month deployment is a routine rotation to replace units serving along the border. 

Soldiers have also been tasked with supporting immigration efforts within the Natural State. Sanders announced in September that up to 40 Arkansas National Guard members would assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in apprehending migrants at risk of deportation under the federal Title 32 program.