Arkansas Times Presents:

Will ICE be coming for Arkansas immigrant families and workers?
With Mireya Reith

Mireya Reith, the founding executive director of Arkansas United, Arkansas’s leading immigrant rights organization will try to answer that question and more Friday, June 27 at the Copper Grill as part of the Arkansas Times lunch and lecture series. Founded more than a decade ago, Arkansas United has over
2,000 members and affiliates throughout the state. “We at Arkansas United want Arkansas to know that immigrant workers statewide are afraid, concerned but also resilient, especially in their relentless hope that they can still call Arkansas home,” said Mireya in a recent statement.

Join the Arkansas Times and Mireya to learn how Arkansas’s immigrant community is mobilizing in the face of threats from Trump, Stephen Miller and ICE.

Here is the latest:

• Recently AU helped organize 300 immigrants from Central and Northwest Arkansas to meet with local legislators to champion the contribution immigrant workers are making to the Arkansas economy.
• AU has secured the services of several local law firms to help guide low income immigrants through the legal maze and toward legal status.
• AU is recruiting what they are calling ‘Accompaniers” to go with immigrants to immigration interviews and citizenship appointments where they might face ambush and detention. In the event of arrest, the Accompaniers gather vital information so that the immigrant can get legal help and family support. Please join us to hear Mireya and learn about her very important work.

About Mireya

Mireya Reith is founding executive of Arkansas United, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering immigrants and their communities through rights advocacy and closing service gaps. Founded in 2012, Arkansas United boasts a network of more than 70 immigrant navigators and 2,200 members and 18 service affiliates (such as schools, adult education centers, clinics, churches, etc) in 19 communities across Arkansas, and operates an Immigrant Resource Center in Fayetteville.

Event Details:

Date: Friday June 27, 2025

Time: Lunch served at 11:30 AM | Lecture begins at 12:00 PM

Location: Copper Grill, Little Rock

About this Series

Our monthly speaker series brings newsmakers, policymakers, and seasoned political observers together for a behind-the-scenes look at the most pressing issues facing Arkansas. These lunch lectures raise money for the Arkansas Times Investigative Journalism Project. 100% of the proceeds will support expanding our newsroom, ensuring our capacity to hold leaders accountable and keep Arkansans informed.

With a shifting political landscape and critical decisions looming, the need for in-depth, unbiased reporting has never been greater. Your support enables us to grow our staff and strengthen our investigative capacity, making the Arkansas Times a vital journalistic watchdog.

In-person tickets are $100 and include lunch in the private dining room at the Copper Grill. Attendance is capped at 75, and previous events have sold out—so please don’t wait to secure your seat.

Doors open at 11:30, and the Copper Grill buffet begins immediately afterward. Mireya will start shortly before noon, followed by a Q&A session. We will wrap up by 1 p.m.

Virtual tickets are $50, providing you with Zoom access to the event and the opportunity to stay informed, no matter where you are.