Governor Mike Kehoe’s new orders aim to track undocumented migrants and enhance pay for state troopers in Missouri
Jefferson City: Governor Mike Kehoe has just signed his first executive orders after taking office. He’s really focused on tackling crime in Missouri right from the get-go.
One of the big moves is creating task forces to catch folks with outstanding warrants. Plus, he’s pushing for immigration enforcement training for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Kehoe made it clear that crime control was a key part of his campaign.
He introduced these proposals just minutes after being sworn in, and he’s got more plans coming up soon. He’s got a two-phase approach, with more legislation to be filed and additional proposals to be revealed during his State of the State address.
Kehoe was joined by Attorney General Andrew Bailey and some top police officials as he laid out his plans. He’s eager to get things rolling quickly.
“We’ve been working hard on this,” Kehoe said. “I just wanted to get some things moving as fast as we could.”
His six orders include setting up regional teams to tackle outstanding arrest warrants, creating a community recognition program for effective law enforcement, and sending selected troopers for federal immigration training.
He also wants law enforcement to note immigration status in arrest reports and shorten the time it takes for troopers to reach the top of their pay grade. Plus, he’s looking to reform probation and parole rules to help those with issues while keeping repeat offenders locked up.
Kehoe didn’t take questions right after signing the orders, leaving that to Bailey. The goal is to bring around 17,000 people into court who have outstanding warrants.
Bailey emphasized that they won’t wait for these individuals to be caught during traffic stops anymore. They’re going to actively pursue those who are avoiding justice.
With the incoming Trump administration promising a crackdown on immigration, these orders position Missouri to assist with enforcement efforts. The state has seen a rise in fentanyl overdoses and human trafficking, which Bailey links to undocumented immigrants.
“Being at the crossroads of the nation makes us vulnerable to drug and human trafficking,” he noted.
Bailey also mentioned that the task force will look into whether offenders who shouldn’t be released are getting out and how to address the issues that lead to crime.
In 2023, Missouri had over 23,000 people in prison and more than 52,000 on probation or parole. The state released thousands on probation and parole but also saw many returned for violations.
Bailey stressed the importance of ensuring that the right people are paroled and that they’re not rushing the process, which could undermine the justice system.
“It’s not about locking everyone up. It’s about locking up the bad guys,” he concluded.
