When working in small groups, I have experienced that it is best for me as an instructor to select the groups my ELL students are being put in. This definitely made the ELL students more comfortable to open up, talk and share their experiences/ideas. I can choose the peers which actually allow my ELL students to open up versus when I let them choose, often they either pair up with other ELL students (which is not necessarily bad, but they profit more from being teamed up with english-profecient students because they are challenged more) or students that would not integrate them as well into their group.
