JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe will travel to Texas for an update on Missouri’s southern border deployment.
According to a release from the governor’s office, Kehoe will travel to McAllen, Texas on Saturday, April 13 to meet with Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers, receive an in-person update on Operation Lone Star and assess the state’s ongoing MSHP deployment to the border.
“Missourians are incredibly proud of the MSHP troopers and Missouri National Guard soldiers who are supporting the State of Texas during this crisis,” Lt. Governor Kehoe said in the release. “Until the Southern Border is secure, every state is a border state. I appreciate Governor Parson for stepping in where President Biden has failed and deploying Missouri’s resources to assist Governor Abbott in this mission.”
Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten and MSHP Colonel Eric Olson will join Kehoe.
Governor Mike Parson will visit Missouri National Guard members deployed to the southern border, near Eagle Pass, Texas, on May 8.
“With millions of illegal immigrants and millions more lethal doses of fentanyl pouring into our nation across the Southern Border, Missouri is proud to stand with Texas as President Biden and the federal government fail to protect our communities,” Governor Parson said. “We know Lt. Governor Kehoe shares our concerns and joins the vast majority of Missourians in demanding a secure Southern Border. We thank him for being a leader on this issue and for offering his assistance in going to Texas to assess current operations and learn how Missouri’s MSHP resources can continue to help secure our Southern Border moving forward.”
The governor issued Executive Order 24-03 on February 20. This activated up to 200 Missouri National Guard members and 22 MSHP troopers.
On March 1, 11 MSHP troopers traveled to southern Texas to help the Texas DPS. This team continued to serve in the border area until March 30.
On March 30, a second contingent of 11 Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers traveled to southern Texas to help Texas DPS.
From March 3 through April 9, MSHP troopers assisting Texas DPS troopers in the area of the U.S. border helped with the following incidents/encounters:
- Traffic Stops – 1,180
- Undocumented Migrants – 447
- Undocumented Migrant Turn-Backs – 45
- Impaired Driver and Drug Arrests – 54
- Other Law Enforcement Assists – 80
Currently, troopers from eight of the MSHP’s nine troops are serving in Texas.
Since March 15, soldiers from the 138th Infantry Regiment, 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade have been serving with soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard.
According to the governor’s office, Missouri soldiers have joined the Texas Army National Guard to conduct security patrols within their assigned area of operations on the Rio Grande River.
In addition, Missouri soldiers helping Texas Army National Guard members in the area of the U.S. border have assisted with the following encounters:
- Undocumented Migrant Surrenders – 624
- Undocumented Migrant Detections & Turn Backs – 68
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