KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) declared a state of emergency Thursday and activated the Missouri National Guard, citing the potential for unrest linked to nationwide protests over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions.
The emergency order — Executive Order 25-25 — empowers the Missouri Adjutant General to deploy service members and equipment to support state and local authorities. The move comes as Missouri joins other states in bracing for protest activity, particularly in major cities like Kansas City and St. Louis.
A Preemptive Move
Kehoe described the order as precautionary, emphasizing the state’s commitment to protecting peaceful protest while preparing to respond to violence or lawlessness.
“We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,” Kehoe said. “The State of Missouri is taking a proactive approach.”
The Unified Command — a coalition of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the National Guard, and the Department of Public Safety — has already been activated to coordinate response plans with local law enforcement.
Local Leaders Push Back
The governor’s move triggered sharp criticism from local officials, civil rights groups, and Democratic lawmakers, who view it as an effort to intimidate peaceful protesters.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas condemned what he sees as a selective response to protests:
“Mayor Lucas is concerned with enhanced state enforcement for one set of protestors, but no action or aid to local law enforcement when Neo-Nazis march through Missouri’s urban streets.”
He said he trusts the thousands of Kansas Citians who protested peacefully in recent days and warned that state-level escalations could undermine local law enforcement and community trust.
Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) accused the governor of following the authoritarian lead of the White House:
“Governor Kehoe’s preemptive declaration… is a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress First Amendment rights.”
She warned that the move could raise tensions rather than defuse them, calling on Kehoe to defend, not diminish, the freedom of assembly.
Civil Rights Advocates Sound Alarm
The ACLU of Missouri also condemned the action as an “unnecessary provocation,” and a potential infringement on civil liberties:
“The right to protest is core to the First Amendment… Government officials have the moral and constitutional responsibility to stop the escalation, practice restraint, and allow Missourians to exercise this foundational right.”
They encouraged protesters to educate themselves on legal rights and de-escalation strategies, especially in the face of what they view as state-sponsored fear-mongering.
Broader National Tensions
The governor’s order comes amid a volatile national environment, as demonstrations grow in cities from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., protesting ICE raids, military deployments, and the treatment of immigrants.
In a related incident Thursday, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), one of the few Latino U.S. senators, was reportedly forcibly removed and handcuffed while trying to question a cabinet secretary during a press event. Mayor Lucas called the incident “shameful” and symbolic of a growing climate of repression.
What’s Next
As protests are expected to continue into the weekend, Missouri will serve as a key battleground in the national debate over immigration, policing, and civil liberties.
Whether Kehoe’s emergency declaration deters violence — or escalates it — may depend on how law enforcement engages with demonstrators in the days ahead.