Jefferson City, Missouri (KMIZ)
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe will travel to McAllen, Texas, on Saturday to meet with deployed Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers and receive an update on Operation Lone Star, according to a Thursday press release.
Last month, Missouri began deploying police officers and National Guard troops to “assist in securing the southern border” with Mexico, according to previous reports. Gov. Mike Parson visited the border earlier this year and plans to visit again on May 8th.
Kehoe will be visiting the border with Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Kirsten and MSHP Col. Eric Olsen, according to the release.
Parson previously described the border as “complete and utter chaos” and cited fentanyl flowing into Missouri in a February press conference and Thursday's press release.
“While President Biden and the federal government are failing to protect our communities as millions of illegal immigrants and millions more lethal doses of fentanyl enter our country across our southern border, is proud to support the state of Texas,” Parson said in a statement. “We know Lt. Governor Kehoe shares our concerns and joins the majority of Missourians in demanding a secure southern border. We know he is a leader on this issue. Thank you for offering to help us travel to Texas to evaluate our current operations and learn how to do so.”Missouri's MSHP resources continue to help secure our southern border. Continue to be helpful. ”
More than 6.3 million immigrants who entered the United States illegally between points of entry have been detained since Biden took office in January 2021, according to Department of Homeland Security statistics.
The number of migrant encounters at the southern border had been on the rise before President Biden took office, but reached a record high under the Biden administration. The global pandemic and crises in countries like Ukraine, Haiti and Venezuela are all contributing to the increase, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
A March 25 email from Jonathan Shifflett, a spokesman for the governor's office, said police officers in Missouri are unlikely to make arrests, but in Texas they have the ability to make arrests if necessary.
“Texas DPS officers will make arrests as they deem necessary, and MSHP officers will be on scene for their backup, security, and assistance.Missouri police officers are commissioned as peace officers through the Texas Law Enforcement Commission. “They have full arrest powers, but operate in a supportive role while at the southern border,” Shifflett wrote. “Similarly, the Missouri National Guard supports border patrol operations, but is not the one making arrests when necessary.”
