Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited El Salvador’s CECOT prison, warning illegal immigrants in the U.S. to self-deport to avoid imprisonment. She observed inmates, including Tren de Aragua gang members, and noted the facility’s capacity of 40,000. Her trip includes diplomatic meetings in Colombia and Mexico, emphasizing U.S. immigration policy.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently visited the CECOT, El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, where she observed deported illegal immigrants, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang. During her visit, she issued a warning to illegal immigrants residing in the United States, urging them to self-deport to avoid incarceration in El Salvador. “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,” Noem stated.
During her tour, Noem witnessed the overpopulation of inmates housed at the facility, which is designed to hold up to 40,000 prisoners and was established by President Nayib Bukele to address violent crime in the country. The center has recently begun housing Venezuelan gang members deported from the United States. Legal proceedings have currently paused deportation flights as President Trump confronts challenges under the Alien Enemies Act regarding the deportation of Tren de Aragua members without standard immigration due process.
Noem’s visit is part of a broader three-day trip to various Central and South American countries, which includes meetings with relevant officials. Following her prison tour, she is scheduled to meet with President Bukele. In February, El Salvador accepted criminal illegal immigrants from the U.S., including those from the Tren de Aragua gang, which the Venezuelan government had previously refused to repatriate. Experts suggest El Salvador’s actions may be both a demonstration of goodwill and a strategic opportunity for self-benefit.
Following discussions in El Salvador, Noem plans to travel to Colombia and Mexico for further diplomatic engagements. She will meet with high-ranking officials, including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. Notably, her visit follows a congressional delegation led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna to El Salvador in February, highlighting the continued focus on immigration and security issues in the region.
Secretary Kristi Noem’s visit to El Salvador emphasizes the Biden administration’s stringent stance on illegal immigration and the treatment of deported individuals, particularly gang members. Through her discussions with Salvadoran officials and observations of the CECOT facility, Noem highlighted the potential consequences for illegal immigrants in the U.S. This visit comes amidst changing dynamics in immigration policy and reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen collaborations with Central American nations. Such interactions are essential for addressing border security and immigration challenges.
Original Source: www.washingtonexaminer.com
