Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe activated his state’s National Guard on Tuesday, authorizing the troops to perform tasks on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“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,” Kehoe said in a press release. “Missouri is proud to join in the Trump administration’s efforts to keep our state and nation secure.”
Effective Wednesday, Missouri National Guard troops will support ICE with data entry, case management and logistical support, which will enable “ICE personnel to focus on core enforcement and security functions.”
The authorization comes after a request for assistance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and will last until Sept. 30, 2026, according to the release. Kehoe said Tuesday that 15 members have so far volunteered for the mission.
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Local Democratic leaders quickly criticized the move. President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Megan Green, said the decision “isn’t just un-American, it’s inhumane, and it won’t make Missouri safer.”
“Don’t be fooled. This move isn’t about keeping people safe or making the lives of Missouri residents better — it’s about maintaining control,” Green continued.
Republicans in the state government, on the other hand, voiced support for the measure.
“I think what the governor is doing is a good thing,” state Rep. Bill Hardwick said, as reported by Missouri’s local NPR station. “I think it’s a good opportunity for soldiers to get experience and to do a good job.”
The move follows similar authorizations from more than 20 other Republican-led states that have heededHegseth’s request for assistance.
On Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry asked President Donald Trump to send the state 1,000 National Guard troops to assist with crime fighting efforts in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and elsewhere.
“Federal partnerships in our toughest cities have worked, and now, with the support of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, we are taking the next step by bringing in the National Guard,” Landry said Tuesday in a press release. “This mission is about saving lives and protecting families.”
“To the criminals terrorizing our communities: your time is up,” Landry continued. “Law and order are back in Louisiana.”
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