On the heels of the Governor’s deployment of Missouri National Guard and the Missouri Highway Patrol to the Southern border, myself, Rep. Tim Taylor, and Rep. Mark Matthiesen began planning our own trip to the Texas/Mexican border.

The trip is arranged through a group called Federation for American Immigration Reform. My trip is being paid for with private and personal funds. This trip is a two day border school in McAllen, Texas.

Rep. Jim Murphy was one of the Missouri legislators to visit the border last year and encouraged myself, Taylor, and Matthiesen to repeat the journey in the fall of 2024. The trio of Missouri legislators leave in September of this year.

I’m anxious to have the firsthand experience of the impact illegal immigration is having on our country and ultimately Missouri. Witnessing the illegal immigration with professionals in the field will give us the insight we need to engage in informed conversations. 

I am even more excited to visit the border since Gov. Mike Parson announced the successful completion of Missouri’s Southern Border Deployment, which supported Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star to secure the Texas-Mexico border.

The deployment, activated by Executive Order 24-03 on Feb. 20, 2024, involved up to 200 Missouri National Guard members and 22 Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers.

The governor’s mission was aimed to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. It resulted in a significant reduction in illegal-immigrant encounters and the seizure of millions of lethal doses of fentanyl. Missouri personnel played a crucial role in enhancing border security and community safety.

Gov. Parson thanked the deployed personnel and Texas Gov. Abbott for their leadership, expressing readiness to support future border security efforts if needed.

During the deployment, Missouri National Guard soldiers were stationed near Eagle Pass, Texas, reducing daily illegal-immigrant encounters from over 4,000 to less than 300 and capturing five individuals on the terrorist watch list. The Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted with law enforcement, conducting traffic stops, arresting impaired drivers, and intercepting undocumented migrants.

Operation Lone Star, supported by Missouri and other states, has apprehended over 513,100 illegal immigrants, arrested more than 43,700 criminals, and seized over 488 million lethal doses of fentanyl. Missouri’s contribution included 50 soldiers from the 138th Infantry Regiment and 22 state troopers, who helped secure the border and address the fentanyl crisis.

I’m looking forward to sharing our story of the trip when we return. In the  meantime, if you need to contact us, please don’t hesitate to call the office at 573-751-6668 or email me at bruce.sassmann@house.mo.gov. Either Jill Ryals or I will get back with you as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you,