Homeland Security Sec Kristi Noem to visit notorious El Salvador prison
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is set to tour El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, where alleged criminal illegal aliens are being held following their deportation by the Trump administration. Noem will be accompanied by Salvadoran Minister of Justice, Héctor Gustavo Villatoro, before meeting with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. This visit is part of a larger three-day trip that will also take her to Colombia and Mexico.
The Terrorism Confinement Center was established in 2023 by President Bukele as part of a crackdown on powerful street gangs that have been causing chaos in the country. The facility consists of eight pavilions and has the capacity to hold up to 40,000 inmates, with 65 to 70 prisoners crammed into each cell. Inmates are not allowed outside and are prohibited from having visitors, with no access to workshops or educational programs.
Earlier this month, a total of 261 illegal aliens were deported to El Salvador, with the majority being Venezuelans expelled via the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Among them were 21 Salvadoran MS-13 gang members, including two high-ranking ringleaders who were considered “special cases” for El Salvador. Video footage released by the government showed the deportees being shackled and escorted by armed officers upon their arrival.
El Salvador has been under a state of emergency for nearly three years, suspending fundamental rights as President Bukele tackles the issue of street gangs. Over 84,000 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of gang affiliation and detained without due process. Bukele had previously offered to house U.S. deportees in the Terrorism Confinement Center during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February.
Former President Donald Trump expressed gratitude to Bukele for his cooperation in a post on Truth Social, praising the partnership between the two countries. The visit by Secretary Noem highlights the ongoing collaboration between the United States and El Salvador in addressing security challenges in the region.
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