Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited deported illegal immigrants from the United States at the world’s largest prison in El Salvador and warned illegal immigrants stateside that they could face the same fate if they do not self-deport.
“I toured the CECOT, El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center,” Noem said in a statement posted to X on Wednesday evening. “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, who spoke on video, stood in front of a locked cell with countless shirtless male inmates packed inside the barred room. The men were covered in tattoos and had had their heads shaved upon being admitted into the facility.
I toured the CECOT, El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center.
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. pic.twitter.com/OItDqNsFxM
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 26, 2025
The facility that Noem visited Wednesday afternoon can hold up to 40,000 people. It was specifically built by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to detain the most violent criminals after Bukele was elected in 2019 and delivered a swift round-up of the country’s MS-13 gang members.
It is now where some Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members are being housed following recent deportation flights from the U.S. that have since been paused by court order. President Donald Trump is facing legal challenges after invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Tren de Aragua gang members without the typical immigrant court proceedings.
Noem departed Washington for El Salvador Wednesday morning on a three-day trip to Central America, South America, and Mexico.
Following the prison tour, Noem is slated to meet with Bukele.
In early February, El Salvador agreed to accept criminal illegal immigrants of any nationality from the United States, including Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members that the Venezuelan regime originally refused to accept back.
Bukele also offered to house in Salvadoran jails U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents convicted of serious crimes.
Border security and immigration experts, each with decades of government experience working on the issue, told the Washington Examiner in February that El Salvador may be stepping up to help in good faith but was likely eyeing the moment as an opportunity that would also benefit itself.
On Thursday, Noem will fly to Colombia for meetings with Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, National Police General Carlos Fernando Triana, and Migration Director Nigeria Renteria, followed by a one-on-one discussion with Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
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Finally, Noem will travel to Mexico on Friday and meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Juan Ramon De La Fuente.
Noem’s visit to El Salvador comes a month after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) led a congressional delegation of lawmakers on the EL Salvador Caucus to El Salvador in February.
