Kehoe authorizes National Guard to help ICE in Missouri
Matthew Sanders
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Kehoe said Tuesday that he has authorized the Missouri National Guard to help at ICE facilities in Missouri.
The mission will begin on Wednesday, Kehoe’s office wrote in a news release.
“This decision comes in response to a request for assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Department of War (DOW) to ensure the resources and personnel needed to effectively enforce immigration laws and maintain operational control of the border,” the release states.
Guard members will help with administrative, clerical and logistical duties at ICE processing facilities, the statement says. The governor’s office told ABC 17 News that 15 Guard members will be deployed.
Homeland Security would have information about where they will be used, the governor’s office said.
“Public safety, keeping Missourians safe, and upholding the rule of law is our administration’s top priority,” Kehoe is quoted in the news release. “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.”
State Rep. John Martin (R-Columbia) expressed support for Kehoe’s decision, claiming border security reflects the will of the American people.
“The American people in the election of Donald Trump very clearly said they want to secure borders,” Martin said. “So our governors willingness to assist in secure borders is good for every state across our nation, as illegal immigration can bring crime and bring issues that affect every state in the union.”
State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) disagrees and criticized the governor’s move.
“It’s complete insanity and this needs to stop. This is about Donald Trump and Gov. Kehoe normalizing troops being everywhere,” Tyson Smith said. “This isn’t a border city, this isn’t El Paso, we don’t need the military, the National Guard enforcing ICE regulations. There’s not an epidemic of people committing crimes in this area.”
Tyson Smith also said the use of the National Guard with ICE is a waste of taxpayer resources and takes away from other services the National Guard is known to help with.
“It’s a waste of resources, Budgets already tight, budgets are already thin. Why are we spending money to have the National Guard enforce ICE regulations. to help with logistics,” Smith said. “This takes away from much needed services, I mean look at this I mean, we’ve got grocery prices that are through the roof.”
State Rep. Ray Reed (D-St. Louis) echoed Smith’s comments and accused Republican leaders prioritizing their loyalty to Trump over the needs of Missouri residents.
“They will do everything they can to just please their king, Donald Trump. We’ve seen it over the last few weeks with this redistricting effort,” Reed said. “We’ve seen it with them bending the knee at every single executive order, the president puts out and now they’re going out of their way to please him over the next red state.”
Reed also criticized the decision to deploy the National Guard for immigration enforcement, pointing to the lack of Guard support after a devastating tornado hit the St. Louis area on May 16. He called the move disrespectful to people in his region.
“Every minute that a National Guard member spends on a desk doing clerical work for ICE is the minute that they’re not going through trainings and preparations for the next natural disaster in the state of Missouri.” Reed said.
Martin disagreed.
“No, I don’t think that’s a bad use of resources , it’s a need that’s been requested by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of War,” Martin said. “You know maintain the rule of law and our immigration policies and so they need assistance, I think that’s a good step, the governor making a good step in the direction.”
Missouri does not have any designated ICE facilities in the state, but county jails in Montgomery and Ozark counties serve as housing for detainees.
ABC 17 News has reached out to ICE to learn where the 15 guard members will be deployed.
Trump has used National Guard in multiple cities in he says is an effort to crack down on crime and assist with immigration enforcement. He has also discussed sending in troops to cities such as Chicago, Memphis, Tennessee, and Portland, Oregon.
Kehoe has also joined U.S. Sens. Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley (R-MO) in calling for ICE agents to be trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Pulaski County.