Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) authorized National Guard troops to assist in immigration enforcement activities in the state.
“Public safety, keeping Missourians safe, and upholding the rule of law is our administration’s top priority,” said Kehoe. “The Missouri National Guard is uniquely equipped to provide this essential administrative support, and we are confident their contributions will be invaluable to immigration enforcement efforts. Missouri is proud to join in the Trump administration’s efforts to keep our state and nation secure.”
Beginning October 1, Missouri’s National Guard service members will provide assistance in tasks such as “data entry, case management, and logistical support, enabling ICE personnel to focus on core enforcement and security functions,” a statement from Kehoe’s office explains.
His office noted that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth approved the duty status of Department of War military personnel supporting ICE processing facilities, allowing Title 32 duty status, a federally funded status under the authority of the governor.
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas condemned the move, claiming the “greatest safety challenge” residents of the state face is “crime committed in almost in all cases by Missouri-born perpetrators against Missouri-born victims.”
“Using the brave women and men of our National Guard as paper pushers and case managers at immigration facilities undermines their mission and the law, directs them away from the important storm-response and local public safety efforts Missourians care about, and marks another example of Missouri public policy operating for the interests of Washington elites rather than every day Missourians,” Lucas said.
