Gov. Parson travels to Texas to sign funding bill for MO troops providing border security

Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation providing supplemental funding to the Missouri National Guard and Missouri State Highway Patrol traveling to the country’s southern border near Eagle Pass, Texas where troops have recently been deployed.

In late February, Parson authorized sending state National Guard and Missouri Highway Patrol officers to aid in Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star mission, which aims to stop illegal border crossings into the U.S.

“President Biden and the federal government have failed. They're allowing fentanyl and other drugs, criminals, and even suspected terrorists to flood across the border into our country,” Parson said.

“States must take a stand, and that's exactly what Missouri is doing. The more crime we can stop at the Southern Border, the less we have to deal with in Missouri,” he said. “We appreciate the strong group of bipartisan lawmakers for approving this funding and understanding the need for Missouri to step in when the federal government has failed our citizens.”

The bill totals $2.2 million, spending $2 million to fund the efforts of Missouri National Guard members already deployed to the southern border and $206,000 for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who are also assisting with border security.

More: Two Springfield state troopers are headed to Texas' southern border. Here's what to know

There are approximately 50 National Guard troopers and 22 patrol officers currently deployed at the Texas border. Parson’s office said the Missouri National Guard troopers have assisted with 1,195 undocumented migrant surrenders and 708 undocumented migrant detections and turn backs.

Missouri troops have also been maintaining 24-hour security surveillance operations, working in tandem with Texas National Guard troopers.

Highway Patrol officers have been working with Texas Department of Safety officers, providing assistance with 1,432 traffic stops, 519 undocumented migrants, 61, undocumented migrant turn backs, 69 impaired driver and drug arrests and 105 other law enforcement assists.

“I think the important takeaway for folks back home in Missouri is to realize the battle that we're fighting down here at the border is keeping it from happening in our own borders in our own state in Missouri,” Parson said in a live-streamed video from the bill signing at the border.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Gov. Parson signs bill funding MO National Guard at Texas border