Arkansas – “The border is secure. But illegal immigration is still a major problem in Arkansas,” U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton said after authorities arrested a man in Carroll County who investigators identified as a member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Cotton made the comments after the Aug. 16 arrest of Louis Fernando Reyes Vieyra, also known as Louis Reyes. Cotton argued that the case demonstrates why illegal immigration remains a concern even as he maintains that the southern border is now secure.
“The border is secure. But illegal immigration is still a major problem in Arkansas,” Cotton wrote. He added that Arkansas police had arrested a Mexican cartel member wanted for multiple murders and argued that “defunding ICE” would allow such individuals to remain in the country.
The arrest occurred in Carroll County after a sheriff’s deputy reportedly observed a vehicle traveling 74 mph in a 60-mph zone on Highway 62 East. According to reporting by KY3 and other outlets citing the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the deputy stopped the vehicle and attempted to identify the driver, local news outlet KY3 reported.
The driver was identified as Vieyra, who investigators later determined was a known member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, commonly referred to as CJNG. The sheriff’s office said Vieyra was considered a known terrorist and had multiple Interpol notices connected to murder investigations in Mexico.
The case initially began as a routine traffic stop. Vieyra reportedly was unable to provide identification, and officers were initially unable to verify his identity. He was taken to the Carroll County Detention Center, where authorities subsequently confirmed who he was, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Vieyra was cited for speeding and driving without a valid license. The other people who were traveling in the vehicle were released at the scene, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Vieyra was later transferred into federal custody.
The arrest has received attention beyond Arkansas because of the alleged international criminal history associated with Vieyra. KY3 reported that investigators said he had multiple Interpol hits related to several murders in Mexico.
The arrest also became part of the broader political debate over immigration and federal immigration enforcement.
Cotton, a Republican who represents Arkansas in the U.S. Senate, used the case to criticize calls to reduce funding or resources for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He argued that individuals with alleged ties to violent criminal organizations should not be allowed to remain in the United States.
His comments came amid continuing national arguments over the role of ICE, immigration enforcement and the administration’s border policies. Republicans have generally argued that aggressive enforcement is necessary to remove dangerous criminal offenders, while Democrats and immigration advocates have criticized aspects of federal immigration enforcement and called for changes to how immigration cases are handled.
The Carroll County arrest provided Cotton with a specific Arkansas example as he made that argument.
According to the reports, Vieyra was not charged in Carroll County with the murders referenced by investigators. His local citations were for speeding and driving without a valid license, while his subsequent transfer to federal custody could lead to additional proceedings based on federal authorities’ investigation.