KC Reporter

Jefferson City — As Executive Order 24-03 expires, Governor Mike Parson highlighted the conclusion of Missouri's Southern Border Deployment in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star mission to secure the Texas-Mexico border. On February 20, 2024, Governor Parson issued Executive Order 24-03 activating up to 200 Missouri National Guard (MONG) members and 22 Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) troopers to support Texas' border security operations.

"We express our sincere appreciation to our MONG and MSHP members who answered the call to help secure the Southern Border and stop illegal drugs and immigrants pouring into our nation," Governor Parson said. "The mission has been a resounding success, significantly reducing daily illegal-immigrant encounters near Eagle Pass and seizing millions of lethal doses of fentanyl. Missouri personnel undoubtedly helped better secure the border and make our communities safer. For now, we welcome our men and women in uniform home and congratulate them on a job well done."

"We also greatly appreciate Governor Abbott for leading this charge. Every state is a border state, but thanks to Governor Abbott leading where President Biden and the federal government have failed, the rest of the nation can rest a little easier knowing their Republican Governors are fighting to help keep them safe. Should Governor Abbott and the State of Texas call on Missouri again, we are prepared to answer," Governor Parson continued.

"I thank Governor Parson for standing with Texas and sending personnel to join our historic border security mission, Operation Lone Star. When Texas was standing alone to hold the line at the border, he delivered," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said. "Missouri National Guard soldiers and law enforcement officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into our country; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry. As Missouri National Guard soldiers and law enforcement officers return home to the Show-Me State, know that their efforts made our communities, and our country safer."

To date, with assistance from Missouri among other states across the country, Operation Lone Star has apprehended over 513,100 illegal immigrants and arrested more than 43,700 criminals with over 38,400 felony charges. In combating fentanyl trafficking during this mission, law enforcement seized over 488 million lethal doses—enough to potentially kill every individual in both the United States and Mexico.

MONG soldiers were stationed near Eagle Pass in Texas where they played a significant role in reducing daily illegal-immigrant encounters from more than 4,000 down to less than 300. They also assisted in capturing five individuals listed on terrorist watch lists.

Recapping Missouri's Southern Border Operations:

Since March 15th approximately fifty soldiers from MONG’s 138th Infantry Regiment within its 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade have been serving alongside those from Texas Army National Guard units until recently beginning out-processing back towards traditional status within Missouri.

MONG personnel maintained continuous surveillance operations working shifts alongside Texan counterparts ensuring safety as well operational efficiency by intercepting undocumented migrants crossing borders turning them back or assisting surrenders till U.S Customs & Border Protection officers took custody processed accordingly expanding presence deterring activities spanning sixty square miles area around Rio Grande River close vicinity Eagle Pass region

Additionally contributing duties included:

- Undocumented Migrant Surrenders: Approximate count stands at around twenty-four hundred

- Undocumented Migrant Detections & Turn Backs approximating thousand

Regarding MSHP deployments starting March first eleven troopers initially traveled southern regions assisting local DPS teams followed another contingent similar numbers deployed late month continuing services throughout early April resulting multiple traffic stops detecting undocumented migrants addressing impaired driver drug arrests supporting broader law enforcement initiatives

Summary statistics indicate:

Traffic Stops: Totalled approximately fourteen hundred thirty-two

Undocumented Migrants encountered numbered roughly five hundred nineteen instances

Turn Backs amounted sixty-one cases while seventy-nine arrests related impaired driving/drug offenses documented additional hundred-five assists various law enforcement activities conducted collaboratively

Photos documenting deployment available below:

Governor Parson w MONG soldiers.jpg

Governor Parson signs HB2016.jpg

Governor Parson visits Southern Border.jpg