On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador, a facility holding hundreds of alleged criminal illegal aliens deported by the Trump administration earlier this month.

During her visit, Noem was accompanied by El Salvador’s Minister of Justice, Héctor Gustavo Villatoro, and later met with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

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This visit is part of a broader three-day trip that will also take Noem to Colombia and Mexico.

The Terrorism Confinement Center, a high-security prison, holds criminals associated with dangerous gangs, including members of the notorious Tren de Aragua.

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A video shared by Noem showed her confronting several alleged gang members who were shirtless, had shaved heads, and wore white prison pants.

While standing with her back to the inmates, Noem sent a clear message to illegal aliens still in the U.S. or considering entering the country unlawfully: “First of all, do not come to our country illegally: You will be removed, and you will be prosecuted.”

Noem continued, “But know that this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people.”

Noem later shared the video on X, emphasizing the Trump administration’s stance on criminal illegal aliens: “President Trump and I have a clear message to criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW. If you do not leave, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison.”

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The Terrorism Confinement Center, which opened in 2023 under President Bukele’s crackdown on gangs, has eight expansive pavilions capable of housing up to 40,000 inmates.

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Prisoners are crammed into cells with as many as 65 to 70 people per unit. Conditions in the facility are harsh, with prisoners unable to go outside or receive visitors.

There are no workshops or educational programs, making it a maximum-security facility designed to prevent any chance of gang influence from spreading.

This facility plays a significant role in El Salvador’s ongoing battle against powerful street gangs, including MS-13, which have terrorized the country for years.

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The Salvadoran government has been operating under a state of emergency for nearly three years, suspending fundamental rights to combat gang violence.

According to the Associated Press, over 84,000 people have been arrested under this emergency measure, many accused of gang ties and detained without due process.

A senior official from the Trump administration confirmed to Fox News that on March 15, 261 illegal aliens were deported to El Salvador, a move made possible under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

This law allows for the expulsion of citizens from an enemy nation without a hearing.

The deportees included over 100 Venezuelans, more than 20 MS-13 gang members from El Salvador, and two high-ranking MS-13 leaders who were considered “special cases” by Salvadoran authorities.

El Salvador’s government released a video showing the deportees arriving in the country.

The men were shackled at the hands and ankles as they exited airplanes, escorted by heavily armed officers in riot gear.

Once at the prison, the men were shaved and changed into the facility’s all-white uniform before being placed in cells.

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In February, President Bukele offered to house U.S. deportees in the Terrorism Confinement Center when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited.

Bukele’s commitment to addressing gang violence in El Salvador has gained him praise from the Trump administration.

In a March 16 post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump thanked President Bukele for his partnership in the fight against illegal immigration and gang violence.

Trump wrote, “We will not forget your understanding of this horrible situation, which was allowed to happen to the United States because of incompetent Democrat leadership.”

 

Noem’s visit underscores the continued collaboration between the United States and El Salvador in combating illegal immigration and criminal gangs.

The partnership between both nations highlights a firm stance on border security and the treatment of criminal illegal aliens who threaten the safety and security of American citizens.

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