Latest News

House Armed Services Committee visits Operation Southern Guard
March 13, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) leaders hosted members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Congressional Delegation (CODEL) here, March 7 and 10. The visits provided an opportunity for lawmakers to observe firsthand the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led migrant holding operations and gain a deeper understanding of the repatriation efforts from an interagency and Department of Defense (DoD) perspective. MORE

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Congressional Delegation (CODEL) visits Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, March 10, 2025. The purpose of the visit was to educate members and staff on illegal alien holding operations and repatriation from a cross-agency and Department of Defense perspective. 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 Sgt. 1st Class ShaTyra Cox)

Chaplain serves as a calm presence during Operation Southern Guard
March 13, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – In the midst of long hours, high-pressure decisions, and the weight of an intense operational mission, a quiet but powerful force moves through the ranks, offering comfort, counsel, and a steadying presence. Chaplain (Maj.) Dell Harlow-Curtis serves as more than the spiritual leader of Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG). He is a lifeline for service members navigating the emotional and ethical complexities of Department of Homeland Security-led migrant operations. MORE

Joint Task Force Southern Guard chaplain visits troops serving with the task force at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, March 3, 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 Sgt. 1st Class ShaTyra Cox) (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out name tapes)

JTF Southern Guard welcoming committee
March 5, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – When boots hit the ground and luggage is off-loaded, someone must be there to guarantee personnel and resources are received, integrated, and prepared for the mission ahead. They may not be standing planeside with welcome drinks and leis, but the Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) joint reception, staging, onward movement, and integration (JRSOI) team is the first to greet incoming forces to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba. MORE

Department of Defense service members arrive to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Feb. 28, 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)

Logistics, sustainment keeps JTF Southern Guard moving, stocked, fueled
March 5, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Nobody wants an outsider coming in and stirring the pot, adding their two cents, or giving advice. While most sections prefer to keep their turf untouched, there’s one team of subject matter experts that everyone wants all in their operational Kool-Aid: the logisticians of Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) J4. MORE

U.S. Army South (USARSOUTH) Soldiers and civilians with the 502nd Air Base Wing pack a pallet of equipment in preparation for the a deployment for the USARSOUTH contingency command post (CCP) at Kelly Air Base, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 31, 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. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)

SECDEF Hegseth visits Naval Station Guantanamo Bay
February 26, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – “Guantanamo Bay represents justice,” said Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Pete Hegseth. “It represents deterrence, and because of you, it represents professionalism.” These were the words Hegseth echoed during his visit to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), Cuba, as he assessed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led illegal alien holding operations and received updates on Joint Task Force Southern Guard’s (JTF-SG) mission on Feb. 25. MORE

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)

Legal team translate policy into action during Operation Southern Guard
February 25, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Tasked with ensuring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led migrant operations at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are executed with legal precision, the Joint Task Force Southern Guard (JTF-SG) legal team translate complex laws and policies into clear, actionable guidance for commanders and troops on the ground. MORE

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)

No Comms, No Mission: J6 keeps Operation Southern Guard connected
February 25, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Where would Operation Southern Guard be without internet, phones, radios, or secure video teleconferencing? Probably relying on carrier pigeons, smoke signals, and an unhealthy amount of sticky notes. None of which are ideal for running a joint task force. MORE

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)

Mission success starts with people, JTF Southern Guard J1 ensures readiness and victory
February 25, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Missions don’t succeed on strategy alone, they rely on the people who execute them. At Joint Task Force Southern Guard, the J1 team works behind the scenes to ensure every service member is accounted for, supported and ready to perform. MORE

Joint Task Force Southern Guard J1 human resources personnel discuss manning rosters at Naval Base 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) (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out name tapes and computer screens)

Joining forces: An in-depth look into Joint Task Force Southern Guard
February 24, 2025 — NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Some missions take months to plan. Others come together in a moment’s notice. Joint Task Force Southern Guard, or JTF-SG, is one of the latter. A force assembled with speed and precision, bringing together military expertise from across the Department of Defense to support Department of Homeland Security-led migrant operations. MORE

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.

410th Contracting Support Brigade enhances readiness with validation exercise
February 20, 2025 — Soldiers, Airmen and Civilians with the 410th Contracting Support Brigade (CSB), 502nd Contracting Squadron, 772nd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron (ESS) and 773rd ESS conducted a joint validation exercise (VALEX) Feb. 10-13 on Fort Sam Houston, Texas to assess and refine their ability to provide contracting support for military operations. MORE

U.S. Army Col. Kenneth Bulthuis, second from left, commander of the 410th CSB, asks questions and gives feedback during mock briefings at a joint validation exercise (VALEX) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Feb. 13, 2025. Soldiers, Airmen and Civilians with the 410th Contracting Support Brigade (CSB), 502nd Contracting Squadron, 772nd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron (ESS) and 773rd ESS conducted a VALEX to assess and refine their ability to provide contracting support for military operations.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Taeckens)