Rhode Island Army National Guard deploying to Guantanamo Bay, Texas border

Warwick-based Rhode Island National Guard troops have been chosen for a mission to help the federal government protect the southern border.

A company-sized force of more than 100 members, all from a local military police unit, is expected to deploy to Texas later this month, according to a pubic information officer for the Guard, Maj. Jarred Rickey.

The Rhode Island Guard members will provide monitoring and surveillance assistance, he said.

They will not participate in law-enforcement activity such as arresting foreigners who attempt to cross the border illegally, he said.

The Rhode Island Guard members will be among 2,500 National Guard troops to support the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, Rickey said.

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Their mission is for the federal government, not for any state, and it is not part of "Operation Lone Star," Rickey said.

Lone Star is the border-protection initiative launched by Texas Gov. Greg Abbot in 2021.

At one point, a shroud of secrecy hung over involvement of Rhode Island guard members in the mission.

Last month, a Rhode Island Guard spokesman said two groups from the local force were mobilizing in advance of anticipated deployments.

He said the Guard would announce the troops' actual deployment but at that time it might not say where the units were going.

Rickey confirmed that the Rhode Island Guard had anticipated the necessity of withholding that information, with respect to the border mission, to comply with guidelines established by the combatant command.

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That changed after New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu commented earlier this week, he said. 

Sununu talked about the involvement of Guard soldiers from both New Hampshire and Rhode Island in the mission.

The Republican governor provided details about the New Hampshire personnel headed to the border.

Rickey said he would not identify the Rhode Island unit involved in the mission. 

He said he did not know which border area the group will serve in.

Rhode Island National Guard members' mission in Guantanamo Bay

Meanwhile, a second group of Rhode Guard members, who are part of the Cranston-based 43rd Military Police Brigade, have already deployed as part of a mission that will take them to Guantanamo Bay, Rickey said.

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That group numbers fewer than 100 troops.

They have already traveled to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

They have joined active-duty personnel who will serve with them in Guantanamo Bay, RIckey said.