Missouri Gov. approves deployment of National Guard to assist ICE

Sam Farley | @samxfarley

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe says he is authorizing National Guard troops to assist with federal immigration enforcement starting Wednesday. 

This decision comes after the Governor received requests from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense.

President Trump has deployed troops to cities like Portland and Chicago, and says he plans to deploy troops to several more. He spoke to a panel of military leaders in Quantico, Virginia on Tuesday about utilizing military support in U.S. cities. 

“They’re very unsafe places, and we’re gonna straighten them out one by one. And this is gonna be a major part for some of the people in this room, it’s a war too, it’s a war from within,” Trump said at the panel.

Critics say deployment of National Guard forces diverts state resources away from needs of the state. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that this will take support away from public safety and disaster response. 

The authorization will run through September of next year.