Arkansas United, located in Springdale, is a resource for many immigrants navigating a complicated legal and political environment. | Staff photo.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Northwest Arkansas, a region heavily reliant on immigrant labor, is facing rising fear and uncertainty as deportations and immigration enforcement intensify. Families worry about separation, workers hesitate to go to their jobs and everyday life is increasingly constrained by the threat of detainment.
“People are scared to go to work, don’t want to send their kids to school or leave their houses,” said Mireya Reith, founding executive director of Arkansas United. “That’s how you see the effect on the local community: just fear.”
Reith added that residents avoid even essential activities.
“Many people don’t want to leave or attend medical appointments because they are afraid of ICE,” she said, referring to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Voices on the Ground
Reith is the founding executive director of Arkansas United, a nonprofit based in Springdale dedicated to empowering immigrants and closing service gaps. Reith’s organization offers community navigation, legal support and resources for immigrant families across the state. Since founding Arkansas United in 2010, she has guided programs on citizenship, workforce integration and emergency support, emphasizing the importance of preparing families for potential enforcement actions. Reith is a licensed attorney and a prominent advocate for immigrant rights in Northwest Arkansas.
Ellen Weintraut is an immigration attorney and owner of Northwest Immigration Law, PLLC, licensed to practice federal immigration law in the United States. She has been practicing since 2006 and specializes in asylum cases, deportation defense, naturalization, work visas and other immigration matters. Weintraut is active in national legal associations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and serves as a local resource for navigating complex immigration policies and enforcement issues in Arkansas.
Uncertainty about TPS Persists
Temporary Protected Status is a temporary immigration benefit the U.S. government provides to people from certain countries who cannot safely return home due to armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary conditions. In many cases, TPS status has been in place for years. TPS has been issued to those from Venezuela, Haiti, El Salvador, Ukraine, Honduras and many other countries deemed as dangerous for residents.
However, some Latin American countries are now at risk under proposed changes by the Trump administration.
According to the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations, advocates of the changes to TPS argue it was always meant to be temporary and should not result in permanent residency.
But for migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua and El Salvador who are in the United States via TPS, they face potential changes:
- TPS for Venezuela, which could be rescinded or altered at any time.
- TPS for Nicaragua, designated in earlier years and renewed multiple times but politically vulnerable.
- TPS for El Salvador, one of the largest TPS populations in the country, is also seen as vulnerable.
This uncertainty has generated a surge of legal consultations and emergency planning among families who have lived and worked in the region for years. Losing TPS could mean:
- Loss of work authorization.
- Loss of protection from deportation.
- Inability to renew licenses.
- Insecurity for U.S. citizen children.
In Northwest Arkansas, the legal environment for immigrants has shifted dramatically.
“Things have become extremely frightening for immigrants in this area,” Weintraut said. “It feels like a police state, where law enforcement agencies work together to detain and deport people who previously had status or work permits.”
Those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), many of whom have lived and worked in the U.S. for years, face growing uncertainty. Changes in federal policies and increased enforcement threaten their employment and stability.
“They’re doing everything they can to cancel TPS status,” Weintraut said. “Special immigrant juvenile cases are also being affected. Children who are here without one or both parents may no longer receive deferred action or work permits.”
State-level restrictions in Arkansas make the situation even more challenging. “Some companies and landlords are refusing to hire or lease to TPS holders due to liability and uncertainty,” Weintraut said.
Economic and Social Implications
In March 2025, a report from the Baker Institute of Public Policy warned of significant social and economic damage tied to expanded deportation measures. The analysis estimates that as many as 225,000 agricultural workers could lose their jobs nationwide, along with 1.5 million in construction, more than one million in hospitality, roughly 870,000 in manufacturing and more than 461,000 in transportation and warehousing.
According to the report, the U.S. Gross Domestic Product could shrink between 2.6% and 6.2% if such measures are widely implemented. Mixed-status households could also see income declines of up to 62.7%, affecting spending, housing stability and access to education.
If this trend continues, Northwest Arkansas could face critical labor gaps in production of plants, manufacturing and essential services. The effects would reach into schools, where the detention of parents could result in children missing classes or needing additional support. In public health, mixed-status families may avoid hospitals or clinics out of fear, placing added strain on emergency services.
Local commerce could also feel the impact. Worker shortages could disrupt production, construction, essential services and retail activity. As income declines and fear grows, participation in social programs, education and civic life may decrease as well.
Detentions are Ongoing, with Local Impact
Federal immigration raids have happened locally. According to AP News, in August of this year, authorities detained nearly 400 immigrants in a single operation in Benton County. Many detainees were transferred to facilities in Louisiana, complicating legal representation and straining families emotionally and financially.
“People are scared to leave their homes because at any moment they could be stopped and sent to immigration,” Weintraut said.
As the Baker Institute report notes, the consequences of large-scale forced migration “extend beyond individuals; they affect neighborhoods, economies and entire social structures.” This includes increased pressure on small businesses, shortages of skilled labor, disruptions in prices, delivery times, and basic services.
Current Enforcement Tactics
Reith reported that ICE agents frequently execute warrants without notifying local police, operating in armed, masked groups that remove individuals from public spaces.
“ICE agents are executing warrants without notifying local police, operating in groups of five to six, armed and masked, and removing people from public spaces, sometimes creating the appearance of kidnappings. In Fayetteville and Springdale, local law enforcement nearly confronted ICE officers due to lack of coordination and verification.”
Local police departments have largely refused to exceed state-mandated cooperation under 287(g) agreements, partly to protect Hispanic officers from conflicts of interest with mixed-status families.
Some Legal Protections Exist
Families and individuals seeking protection face increasingly complex legal pathways. Requests now often focus on detention-related issues, asylum applications or transitioning from TPS to other statuses.
“The questions people ask now are the same they’ve always asked: ‘Do I have a way to stay here legally?’” Weintraut said. “But with higher levels of detention, they’re more concerned about family members.”
Practical steps are advised for those at risk. Weintraut recommends guardianship arrangements for children and powers of attorney, ensuring someone can act on a child’s behalf if parents are detained.
Local Advocates Ask for Civic Engagement
Beyond legal precautions, advocates urge broader community support.
“Everyone needs to be aware and willing to step up and speak out,” Weintraut said. “Community leaders and business leaders need to help maintain stability.”
Reith emphasized that the stakes extend beyond immigrants. “What’s happening now is a lack of due process. If the government is willing to act illegally against immigrants, what stops them from doing the same to U.S. citizens?”
A Resilient Community
As Northwest Arkansas faces heightened enforcement and TPS uncertainty, the next six to 12 months remain unpredictable. Reith, who works across workforce development and policy, explained:
“It really depends on the Franklin County jail and whether it’s going to be an ICE detention center. If that happens, federal funding, private prison interests, and 287(g) agreements could lead to an uptick in raids and large-scale deportations, similar to what we’ve seen in other states.”
“Unfortunately, being Hispanic carries risk right now,” she said. “Our community is expected to live at another level of existence in relation to the state.”
Despite fear, local immigrant communities display resilience.
“We firmly believe that if women immigrants achieve their potential, all of Arkansas achieves a greater potential,” Reith said. “We’re not criminals, we’re change agents. By working together, we can strengthen our economy, democracy and communities.”
“The challenges facing immigrants affect everyone. Workforce stability and community cohesion are at stake,” Weintraut said.
“Despite all the fear and pain, our community remains resilient. Supporting one another and working together can create a more just and stable future for all residents of Arkansas,” Reith concluded.