Joint Task Force Southern Guard

U.S. military service members at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay are supporting illegal alien holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security.

JTF Southern Guard Photos

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth receives a brief from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Phil Ryan, the commander of Joint Task Force Southern Guard, on transporting illegal aliens at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 25, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox)
250225-A-OT530-3289 - Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth receives a brief from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Phil Ryan, the commander of Joint Task Force Southern Guard, on transporting illegal aliens at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 25, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox)
Joint Task Force Southern Guard conducts joint reception staging onward movement and integration briefing at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 10, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox) (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out name tapes) (Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Reed-Cox)
Joint Reception Staging Onward Movement and Integration - Joint Task Force Southern Guard conducts joint reception staging onward movement and integration briefing at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 10, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox) (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out name tapes) (Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Reed-Cox)
An electromagnetic spectrum manager assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Guard programs radios at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 18, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox) (Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Reed-Cox)
250218-A-OT530-2286 - An electromagnetic spectrum manager assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Guard programs radios at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 18, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox)
U.S. service members support interagency partners escorting illegal aliens as part of Operation Southern Guard at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 10 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Operation Southern Guard: Illegal aliens arrive to Guantanamo Bay - U.S. service members support interagency partners escorting illegal aliens as part of Operation Southern Guard at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 10 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Guard is supporting illegal aliens holding operations led by the Department of Homeland Security at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
U.S. Army South leads joint task force in support of illegal alien holding operation in Guantanamo Bay
250131-A-JF826-1027 - U.S. Army South Soldiers and civilians with the 502d Air Base Wing pack a pallet of equipment in preparation for a deployment for the USARSOUTH contingency command post at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, on Jan. 31, 2025. At the direction of the President of the United States to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, U.S. military service members are supporting removal operations led by DHS at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
Sailors assigned to Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) and Coast Guardsmen assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Resolute erect expeditionary shelter tents in support of the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Migrant Operations Center expansion February 2, 2025, as part of Operation Southern Guard. At the direction of the President of the United States to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense, U.S. military service members are supporting removal operations led by DHS at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
250202-N-XB470-0125 - 250202-N-XB470-0125 GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (Feb. 2, 2025) - Sailors assigned to Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) and Coast Guardsmen assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Resolute erect expeditionary shelter tents in support of the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Migrant Operations Center expansion February 2, 2025, as part of Operation Southern Guard. At the direction of the President of the United States to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense, U.S. military service members are supporting removal operations led by DHS at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Raphael Dorne/Released)
Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello meets with Sailors attached to Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Saint Louis (LCS 19) aboard the ship during their support of Operation Southern Guard at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, February 5, 2025.
250205-N-IX958-1029 - GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (February 5, 2025) U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello meets with Sailors attached to Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Saint Louis (LCS 19) aboard the ship during their support of Operation Southern Guard at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, February 5, 2025. At the direction of the President of the United States to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense, U.S. military service members are supporting removal operations led by DHS at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs)
U.S. Army South leads joint task force in support of illegal alien holding operation in Guantanamo Bay
250202-A-JF826-1006 - Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army South, 470th Military Intelligence Brigade and 56th Signal Battalion stand in formation in preparation for a deployment of the USARSOUTH contingency command post at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on Feb. 2, 2025. At the direction of the President of the United States to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, U.S. military service members are supporting removal operations led by DHS at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
U.S. Army South leads joint task force in support of illegal alien holding operation in Guantanamo Bay
250131-A-JF826-1222 - Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army South, 470th Military Intelligence Brigade and 56th Signal Battalion load a C-130 Hercules in preparation for a deployment of the USARSOUTH contingency command post at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, on Jan. 31, 2025. At the direction of the President of the United States to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, U.S. military service members are supporting removal operations led by DHS at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)
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JTF Southern Guard Articles, Releases

Overview

U.S. Southern Command has set up a Joint Task Force Southern Guard to support illegal alien holding operations at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. U.S. Army South has assumed responsibility as the lead of the Joint Task Force, under the command of Maj. Gen. Phil Ryan, and will oversee the establishment and management of facilities supporting DHS-led operations.

Supporting forces are providing operational support, security, and logistical assistance as part of the broader interagency effort.

U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay is a critical forward-operating base that enables the United States to maintain persistent presence in the Caribbean, support regional security objectives, and defend the homeland.

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