JEFERSON CITY – Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has ordered the Missouri National Guard to suppoer 1CE in its efforts to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.
Rep. Ray Reed (D-St. Louis) voiced his opposition to the move.
Kehoe stated:
“Public safety, keeping Missourians safe, and upholding the rule of law is our administration’s top priority.
“Following a request for assistance from @dhsgov to the @DeptofWar to ensure the resources and personnel needed to effectively enforce immigration laws and maintain operational control of the border, the Missouri National Guard has been authorized to support @ICEgov immigration enforcement efforts in Missouri.
“Missouri is proud to join in the Trump administration’s efforts to keep our state and nation secure.”
Missouri State Representative Ray Reed (D-St. Louis) issued the following statement in response to Governor Mike Kehoe’s announcement authorizing Missouri National Guard members to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with clerical and administrative duties:
“Across Missouri, families are working hard to make ends meet. They’re worried about the cost of healthcare, whether their kids’ schools have the resources they need, and how we repair the roads and bridges that connect our communities. These are the challenges that deserve our full attention.
“So it is deeply troubling that Governor Kehoe has chosen to direct our National Guard toward administrative work for a broken immigration system, rather than focusing on the urgent needs right here at home.
“Our Guard members represent the best of Missouri. Time and again, they’ve answered the call during floods, tornadoes, and ice storms. They put their lives on the line to protect and serve their neighbors. That mission is honorable. It is essential. And it’s why we owe them more than stunts that take them away from the work they signed up to do.
“This decision does not make our communities safer. It does not grow our economy. And it does not reflect the values of service and sacrifice that define our Guard.
“Missouri deserves leadership that puts people first, leadership that invests in our families, strengthens our communities, and honors the service of those who protect us. That is the vision I will continue to fight for every day.”