National Guard

Less than a year from the midterms, state and local voting officials from both major political parties are actively preparing for the possibility of interference by the Trump administration. In Missouri, the Justice Department made an unprecedented demand to investigate voting machines, access old ballots and more.

While courts have halted the use of troops in Portland and Chicago, operations are well underway in other cities. The Missouri National Guard has been authorized to help ICE with administrative duties, but troops have yet to be deployed to St. Louis.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe mobilized Guard members to assist ICE with "data entry, case management, and logistical support." Military experts say they also worry how these new deployments will affect recruitment and public trust.

The move comes amid President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement practices garnering increasing criticism. Kehoe said that Missouri National Guard troops will help with "administrative, clerical and logistical duties."

While announcing the National Guard would go to Memphis next, President Trump said the head of Union Pacific also asked him to do the same in St. Louis. "He said, 'Sir please, do me a favor. St. Louis has been so badly hit. It's very hard. Very very hard.'"

Missouri and Massachusetts are the only states whose National Guards fall under another state department agency instead of answering directly to the governor.

There will be nine National Guard teams deployed throughout the state and each team can vaccinate up to 2,500 people per day depending on supply.