Trump’s border security efforts are showing real teeth as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem personally inspected a notorious Salvadoran prison now housing deported gang members – and filmed it, too. The high-profile visit resulted in a wildly viral video that sent democrats into total meltdown.
At a glance:
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), which now houses deported Venezuelan gang members
- The Trump administration has deported hundreds under the Alien Enemies Act, focusing on alleged members of criminal organizations
- Noem praised El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for partnering with the US to incarcerate the deportees
- The deportations are part of Trump’s broader strategy to combat illegal immigration and transnational gang activity
- Liberal groups have criticized the move, claiming deportees lack due process and evidence of gang ties
Bold Message from Inside the Prison
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem delivered a powerful warning to potential illegal immigrants during her visit to El Salvador’s maximum-security prison – and her viral video has made it clearer than ever that she’s serious. Her unprecedented tour of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) showcases the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to combating gang violence and illegal immigration.
https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1905034256826408982
Standing inside the facility that now houses hundreds of Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States, Noem told hopeful illegals to not even try crossing the border.
“I’m here at CECOT today and visiting this facility. First of all, I want to thank El Salvador and their President for their partnership with the United States of America to bring our terrorists here and to incarcerate them and have consequences for the violence that they have perpetuated in our communities,” Noem said in the clip.
DHS Secretary Noem will visit El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center on Wednesday.
According to the Trump administration, the more than 250 illegal aliens deported to the prison are members of the violent Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua.https://t.co/YlWQKP4298
— Virginia Allen (@Virginia_Allen5) March 24, 2025
The deportees are alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which has been linked to violent crimes across the United States. President Trump has prioritized their removal under the rarely-used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which permits deportation without court hearings during times of hostility with foreign nations.
International Partnership Against Crime
The arrangement with El Salvador represents a significant diplomatic achievement for the Trump administration. The partnership allows for housing dangerous criminals in a facility specifically designed to contain gang members, keeping them from returning to American communities.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has earned praise from conservatives for his effective crackdown on gangs in his own country. His tough-on-crime approach has dramatically reduced El Salvador’s murder rate and restored order to communities previously terrorized by criminal organizations.
During her tour, Noem observed firsthand the strict conditions at the facility, which houses inmates in crowded cells with minimal amenities. The prison offers no visitor access, workshops, or educational programs, focusing instead on the containment of dangerous individuals deemed threats to public safety.
