**Arkansas Joins Several States in Having Their National Guard Assist ICE**

“Arkansas’ Guardsmen are there when we need them, whether it’s to deploy overseas, help secure the Southern Border, respond to a natural disaster, or keep our nation’s capital safe,” Governor Sanders said in a statement. “I have no doubt that in this mission, they will show the same skill and discipline that makes them such valuable public servants and will help bring law and order back to the streets of Washington, D.C.”

The governor announced that the troops of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade will first assemble at Fort Chaffee in western Arkansas for administrative screenings and training. Afterward, they are scheduled to head to the district following Thanksgiving.

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

The National Guard encampment began in the district on August 11 and was last extended to November 30. However, a recent announcement has extended the mission through February 2026.

Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard of the D.C. National Guard previously stated that troops should “prepare for a long-term persistent presence” in D.C., possibly through the 250th celebration of America in summer 2026.

As of Thursday, approximately 2,400 National Guard troops from the District of Columbia and states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama were stationed in D.C. It remains unclear whether the order to stay mobilized through February applies to these states’ troops or only to the D.C. National Guard.

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In a court notice, the Department of Justice stated, “Defendants, by undersigned counsel, hereby provide notice that the District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) has received direction from the U.S. Department of War to extend the current mission through February 28, 2026.”

The D.C. National Guard did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment on which states, in addition to Arkansas, would keep troops in the district over the winter.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3873052/sarah-huckabee-sanders-arkansas-national-guard-soldiers-to-dc-after-thanksgiving/