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

Twenty-two Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers begin duties in Texas this month, an effort to secure a southern border that's reportedly given way to mass illegal immigration. They'll join 250 Missouri National Guard members also ordered to help.

Missouri is among the more than a dozen states to lend its resources to Texas following Republican Gov. Mike Parson's recent order to take part in the unusual interstate collaboration

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed thousands of his state's police officers and national guard troops to deter the illegal border crossings. They're now being helped at border point Eagle Pass by police and national guardsmen from across the country.

MSHP sent its first group of troopers to Texas late last week and on March 10, a group of 50 Missouri National Guard members will report for duty before rotating with another group.

MSHP said it was down 132 troopers across the state before Parsons' order, but MSHP colonel Eric Olson said sending troopers to Texas amid the staff shortage won't negatively affect Missouri. No more than two patrol officers were taken per MSHP region.

"They're geographically spread out and won't have any adverse effect on any one particular area of the state," Olson said at a recent hearing.

Here's what MSHP troopers will be doing this month at the Texas border, as answered by MSHP public information officer and captain Dusty Hoffman.

News-Leader:How many of the MSHP troopers in Texas are from the Springfield area (Troop D)?

MSHP: Two. (Their names were not released, as MSHP wants to "protect their families, since they will be absent from their homes for a duration.")

How will MSHP be helping at the border?

Officers will work in conjunction with Texas' Department of Public Safety officers in all general law enforcement operations. This includes traffic enforcement, criminal interdiction, crime prevention, and law enforcement assistance to other agencies.

How long will they be down there?

It is currently planned as a 30-day assignment.

How were these 22 MSHP troopers selected for this assignment? And did any sort of criteria go into that selection?

All officers volunteered. No requests were directed to any officers based upon any particular demographic.

When a MSHP trooper is sworn in at the start of their career do they know that they may be asked to help with something like this?

All members of the Patrol understand the need to fulfil the mission of the Patrol and maintain a state of readiness to do so, throughout their career.

Is there a financial incentive for MSHP troopers assigned to Texas?

Polices and procedures regarding pay are no different for this assignment.

Where will MSHP troopers be staying in Texas?

Officers are staying in hotel rooms while in Texas.

Ryan Collingwood covers a wide range of topics for the News-Leader with an emphasis on public safety. He can be reached by phone at 417-258-8174 and email at rcollingwood@news-leader.com. You can also follow Ryan on social media at X.com/rwcollingwood.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 2 Springfield state troopers headed to help secure U.S.-Mexico border