On September 24, 2026, at 6:00 P. M. the Benton County, Arkansas, Quorum Court will have its regular meeting. The main issue will be whether to accept a substantial grant from the federal government. The grant will facilitate the Benton County Sheriff’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by informing ICE of illegal immigrant criminal arrestees in Benton County and detaining them. At the Quorum Court meeting on August 27, thirty-six public comments opposed ICE cooperation. Only six spoke in favor.
A few years ago, when we lived part-time in Benton County, the sheriff held a similar meeting to explain his cooperation with ICE (I went and sat near the door for reasons that will be obvious.) With advance notice, a cabal of open borders fans arranged among themselves to pack the meeting room and public comment time. Before they seated themselves. many signed the commentor list, packing the list to assure that nobody, except pro-illegal immigrant persons, would be able to comment. The sheriff and a federal official made logical presentations. Then the comment line was given the floor.
A highly educated man expounded on the main pro-open borders personal interest story of the packed room: A foreign man had been honored with a U. S. temporary visitor visa. His visa expired, but he didn’t leave. Well after his visiting time lapsed, he came to Fayetteville, AR to meet with other highly educated persons. At Fayetteville he went to a social event with others of his intellectual standing. He drank too many adult beverages, even though he is a Muslim and Muslims say they are total abstainers of such potions. While driving back to his lodging, a local police officer pulled him over and arrested him because he was driving- under- the- influence (DUI.) The sheriff informed federal immigration officers. The over-staying guest was picked up by ICE officers and carried to a holding facility in Louisiana from where he would be deported. This just result of visa violation, and DUI made the open-borderers almost froth at their mouths. Railing against immigration enforcement continued unabated for 30 minutes, or so.
I realized that I would not be allowed to publicly thank the sheriff because the comment line had been jammed, so I stood, butted in and said, “I thank the sheriff and support his coordination with immigration law enforcement.” In unison the room burst with, “Sit down! It’s not your turn to speak!” I turned and said, ” I knew you’d try to shout me down.” Shortly thereafter the meeting adjourned. I was the only person on that room packed with 150 or more people who had spoken out loud in favor of local cooperation with federal immigration law enforcers.
I expect that the same tactics to silence ICE enforcement supporters will be employed at the Sept. 24 meeting in the Quorum Court room of the administration building behind the county courthouse.
Gerald Holland