Gov. Kehoe Weighs Deploying Missouri National Guard to Support ICE

(MISSOURI) Governor Mike Kehoe is weighing a Trump administration request to deploy the Missouri National Guard to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid a sharp rise in federal immigration operations, according to state officials. No final decision had been announced as of August 27, 2025.

Missouri is one of 10 new states considering the move, part of a broader mobilization that could place up to 1,700 National Guard members across 19 states to help with administrative, logistical, and transportation tasks tied to immigration enforcement. If approved, Guard personnel would remain under Kehoe’s command and would not make arrests, a point emphasized by both his office and the Pentagon.

Background and the Request

The request arrived in July, days after a July 25, 2025 order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorizing governors to deploy Guard members in support of ICE under state control.

Under the plan:

• Missouri Guard members would operate in a Title 32 status — federally funded, but commanded by the state — allowing them to work closely with detainees without violating the Posse Comitatus Act.
• Duties would center on case processing and support functions, including data entry, detainee transportation between facilities, and record updates inside ICE offices.
• Similar missions in other states have used small teams (often 14–60 personnel) on rotations projected to run from late August through mid-November.

Officials say this effort is separate from federal deployments tied to violent crime in cities and focuses only on immigration support.

Statements from State and Federal Officials

Governor Kehoe has framed the decision as part of a broader push to support law enforcement while maintaining order during protests. His office noted he signed Executive Order 25-25 in June to activate the Guard on standby during demonstrations, though no Guard units were ultimately sent then.

Gabby Picard, Kehoe’s spokesperson, emphasized any deployment would be limited to administrative and logistical work and would not involve arrests or raids.

At the Pentagon, chief spokesman Sean Parnell said the Department of Defense can handle transport, records work, and other back-office needs so ICE agents can spend more time on their core duties. President Trump has publicly backed expanding federal and Guard support for immigration operations, framing the moves as part of public safety measures.

Why Title 32 Matters

Federal data show more than 59,000 people were in ICE custody in August, and officials have set a goal of at least 30,000 deportations each month for the near term.

To support that pace:

• The Pentagon shifted away from using Marines and Reserve units toward National Guard support.
• Guard members on Title 32 orders can work inside detention settings and handle intake without crossing legal lines reserved for sworn agents.

For Missouri, this would mean Guard personnel could assist ICE facilities with tasks that speed up processing while ICE officers focus on field operations and court duties.

Intended Guard Tasks (Non-law Enforcement)

State and federal officials stressed Guard members would not play law enforcement roles. They would not:

• arrest anyone,
• conduct home or workplace checks, or
• lead raids.

Planned support tasks (from planning documents shared with states) may include:

• Personal data collection during intake (fingerprinting, photographing detainees)
• DNA swabbing as required by federal protocols
• Case file assembly, scanning, and updates to electronic records
• Transportation of detainees between ICE facilities or to medical appointments
• Clerical tasks such as scheduling, property inventories, and chain-of-custody paperwork

Deployment Scale, Command, and Funding

Missouri leaders have not specified how many Guard members would be sent or where they would work. Other states that accepted the mission have:

• kept teams small (often fewer than five dozen),
• placed teams at ICE field offices or processing centers, and
• run rotations from late August/early September through mid-November.

If Missouri signs on, officials expect a similar scale and timeline. Funding would come from the federal government, but the chain of command would stay with Governor Mike Kehoe, who would set rules of engagement and could recall units at any time.

Existing State Coordination

Missouri’s Department of Public Safety, the State Highway Patrol, and the Missouri National Guard already operate under a Unified Command structure for fast coordination. That system was established during the summer after demonstrations in several cities. The current discussion builds on that readiness plan but centers on federal immigration work, not public order missions. State officials say the overlap helps them move people and equipment quickly if the Governor approves the deployment.

ICE, Title 32, and Legal Limits

ICE, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, oversees civil immigration enforcement, detention, and deportation in the United States 🇺🇸. The agency has increasingly turned to state partners for help with support tasks as detention counts rise.

Key legal points:

• Under Title 32, Guard members remain under state control while receiving federal funding. This lets them be assigned to intake rooms and transport details that involve close contact with detainees, provided sworn ICE officers make enforcement decisions.
• Under Title 10, Guard members would be federal active duty and face tighter limits on contact with detainees.
• The Posse Comitatus Act restricts the use of federal troops in domestic policing, which is why Title 32 status is used to maintain legal boundaries.

More information about ICE operations is available at the agency’s official site: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Broader Picture: Multi-State Mobilization

Missouri is part of a larger push involving at least 20 states with Republican governors either sending small Guard teams or reviewing requests. Separate briefings described a parallel mobilization of up to 1,700 Guard members spread across 19 states in the first wave. The White House has encouraged more states to join as ICE holds climb and removal flights increase.

President Trump has said he wants federal and Guard units to take on support roles so immigration officers can move faster on pending cases and court deadlines. Missouri officials have been in regular contact with federal counterparts as they review staffing and legal terms.

Where Teams Might Work and What They’ve Done Elsewhere

Officials have not said which ICE sites would host Missouri Guard teams. Typical placements and duties in past deployments:

• Administrative areas away from the public
• Wearing standard duty uniforms and following ICE security rules
• Handling property logs, medical transfer paperwork, and travel coordination
• Moving detainees between secure areas inside facilities
• Working shifts tied to intake, records, and transportation

Missouri could see a similar setup if Kehoe approves the mission.

Community Concerns and Civil Rights Considerations

The debate extends beyond staffing logistics. For families with mixed immigration status, news of Guard involvement can cause fear that everyday life—school drop-offs, church, or routine traffic stops—might attract federal attention.

State officials reiterate Guard personnel will not patrol neighborhoods or conduct raids. There have been no major incidents reported in Missouri tied to this initiative.

However, civil rights groups warn:

• Uniformed troops in immigration spaces can chill trust and deter crime reporting.
• This can make it harder for local police to build relationships in immigrant neighborhoods.

Community leaders say clear rules, public updates, and independent oversight will matter if the state approves the deployment so residents know where Guard teams are working and what they can and cannot do.

Clear notice, transparency, and oversight are critical to prevent confusion and preserve community trust.

Effects on Families and Local Agencies

For immigrant families:

• The most immediate effect may be faster processing inside detention and quicker movement between facilities.
• Faster transfers can reduce waiting times but may also shorten the time families have to gather documents, locate counsel, or arrange bond.
• Attorneys recommend:
  • Keeping copies of identity documents and court paperwork in a safe place
  • Sharing emergency contact plans with trusted relatives
  • Confirming who can pick up children from school or daycare if a parent is detained

For local agencies:

• A Guard deployment could ease pressure points—county jails dealing with ICE detainees often juggle transport, medical runs, and paperwork.
• With Guard teams taking on transport and record updates inside ICE facilities, sheriffs may face fewer last-minute scheduling conflicts.
• Court calendars could shift if ICE moves people more quickly, which may affect access to counsel.

Supporters argue more hands on basic tasks will make the system run more smoothly. Critics caution that uniformed troops, even in support roles, can blur lines for the public and invite confusion about command and responsibility.

Examples, Analysis, and Considerations

VisaVerge.com analysis shows states that agreed to support ICE typically:

• Deployed small teams (often 14–60 people)
• Ran rotations lasting a few months
• Operated under Title 32 authority
• Focused on intake and transportation while avoiding policing functions
• Left governors with command authority to scale deployments up or down

A common scenario highlighted by legal groups:

1. A father with no criminal record is stopped for a broken taillight.
2. He is booked on a warrant and transferred to ICE on a detainer.
3. Under slower systems, he may wait days in a county jail before ICE transport arrives.
4. With Guard help, transfers could happen faster:
   • Pros: Family learns location sooner and can reach him.
   • Cons: Fewer days to gather money, hire a lawyer, or collect documents for bond.

Advocates say this is why clear notices to families and lawyers matter. State officials argue faster processing is fairer because cases move without long, uncertain delays.

Current Status and Next Steps

• As of August 27, 2025, Missouri has not announced a decision.
• States in the pipeline plan to start rotations in early September.
• If Governor Mike Kehoe approves a deployment:
  • The Missouri National Guard would report to his office,
  • Work in support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and
  • Follow limits laid out in federal and state orders.