Governor Parson Announces Lt. Governor Kehoe to Travel to Texas to Receive Update on Missouri's Southern Border Deployment

APRIL 11, 2024

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe will travel to McAllen, Texas, on Saturday, April 13, to meet with Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) troopers, receive an in-person update on Operation Lone Star, and assess Missouri's ongoing MSHP deployment to the Southern Border. Lt. Governor Kehoe will be joined by Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten and MSHP Colonel Eric Olson.

Governor Parson will visit Missouri National Guard members deployed to the Southern Border in support of Operation Lone Star on May 8, 2024, near Eagle Pass, Texas. More information will be provided prior to the trip. 

"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." 

“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. “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's Southern Border Operations to Date:

On February 20, 2024, Governor Parson issued Executive Order 24-03 activating up to 200 MONG members and 22 MSHP troopers to support Operation Lone Star on the Sothern Border. A force of 11 Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) troopers has been supporting the Texas Department of Public Safety on the Southern Border since March 1, 2024. Missouri National Guard (MONG) members, totaling 48 soldiers, began supporting border security efforts on March 14 after receiving official orders on March 11. 

Missouri State Highway Patrol Border Deployment:

On March 1, 2024, 11 MSHP troopers traveled to southern Texas to assist the Texas DPS in providing law enforcement services in the area of the U.S. border. The team briefed at the Texas DPS South Region Office (3) in Weslaco, Texas, on March 3 and reported to its first assigned shift on March 4. This team continued to serve in the border area until March 30, 2024.

On March 30, 2024, a second contingent of 11 Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) troopers traveled to southern Texas to assist Texas DPS in providing law enforcement services in the area of the U.S. border.  The team briefed at the Texas DPS South Region Office (3) in Weslaco, Texas, on April 1 and reported to its first assigned shifts on April 2. 

From March 3 through April 9, MSHP troopers assisting Texas DPS troopers in the area of the U.S. border provided assistance with the following incidents/encounters:  

  • Traffic Stops – 1180         
  • 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.  

Missouri troopers assigned to the detail work 12-hour shifts, with each working shifts alongside a Texas DPS trooper. This allows for officer safety and operational efficiency. Routine calls for service include general law enforcement calls, traffic stops, response to alarms and camera activations, and assisting with warrant arrests. Officers routinely intercept undocumented migrants on foot and in vehicles and observe them until U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers respond to take custody. At times, officers encounter undocumented migrants who turn and cross back over the border before interception.

Missouri National Guard:

Since March 15, soldiers from the 138th Infantry Regiment, 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade have been serving side by side with soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard. 

Missouri Soldiers were assigned to maintain 24-hour security surveillance operations, with each soldier working shifts alongside Texas Guardsmen. This allows for soldier safety and operational efficiency. Routine calls for service include detection of undocumented migrants coming across the border, helping turn back undocumented migrants to Mexico, and assisting with surrenders. Soldiers routinely intercept undocumented migrants on foot and in vehicles and observe them until U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers respond to take custody and process. 

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 to their surveillance operation duties, Missouri soldiers assisting Texas Army National Guard members in the area of the U.S. border have provided assistance with the following encounters:

  • Undocumented Migrant Surrenders - 624
  • Undocumented Migrant Detections & Turn Backs - 68

Photos from both the MONG and MSHP deployments can be found below: