Mireya Reith, executive director of immigrant advocate group Arkansas United Community Coalition, said the group began hearing reports of a number of immigration arrests -- particularly in Batesville -- from Jonesboro-area organizers earlier in the week.
Reith said in telephone interviews that the group was still trying to clarify exactly what had happened in Batesville, and described an atmosphere of growing concern about enforcement in immigrant communities across the state.
Read MoreShe's a voice for the voiceless, an advocate and a fighter.
Read MoreA coalition of groups has announced opposition to the huge tax cut package given preliminary endorsement by a Republican-stacked study group this week.
Read More"If we look at immigration as a whole, immigrants give more to our economy than take, here in Arkansas, a study was done a few years ago that demonstrates every dollar our state invests, we get seven dollars in return and that follows a trend nationwide," Reith explained.
Read MoreMireya Reith, executive director of AUCC, was at the meeting and she speaks up to agree with Gentry that the Trump executive orders and the overall climate since his election makes it very difficult for law enforcement to refuse to cooperate with ICE.
Read More"Northwest Arkansas, being home to nearly half of the state's immigrants, immigrants are listening, immigrants are hearing this. And the children are seeing this," said Humberto Marquez, the organizing director for the Arkansas United Community Coalition:
Read MoreMaria Meneses, a community organizer for Arkansas United Community Coalition, said she was not surprised to see President Trump sign the executive order.
“I felt the pressure already accumulating,” she said. “So, by then, you know, he knew he messed up.”
Read More“Well, of course, everyone’s pretty upset, you know, seeing all these horrific stories that are occurring,” said Maria Meneses, a community organizer for Arkansas United Community Coalition.
Read MoreThe Arkansas United Community Coalition, an immigrant rights group, opposes the idea, saying, "[While] we support our military, bases are not appropriate places to house refugees, especially children, who have only know the trauma of war and violence.
Read MoreArkansas United Director Mireya Reith weighs on Senator Tom Cotton's recent comments.
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