Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is taking a hardline approach to illegal immigration and transnational crime. In a powerful display of resolve, Noem toured El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT)—a sprawling, maximum-security facility that houses some of the most violent gang members in the Western Hemisphere.
Noem used the visit to issue a blunt warning to criminal illegal aliens in the U.S.: commit crimes here, and you could end up in a place like this.
“You Will Be Removed. You Will Be Prosecuted.”
Standing outside the towering prison walls, Noem delivered a message that left no room for ambiguity.
“First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed, and you will be prosecuted. But know this—this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit. If you commit crimes against the American people, you may find yourself here.”
Noem’s comments mark a shift toward international cooperation and a zero-tolerance strategy for foreign nationals who break U.S. laws.
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
Inside the Terrorism Confinement Center
The prison, opened by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, is designed for one purpose: breaking the back of gang power. It currently houses over 15,000 inmates, with capacity for 40,000. Inmates are locked down nearly 24 hours a day in brutal conditions—no rehabilitation programs, no privileges, no sympathy.
These are the same gang members responsible for ruthless violence, extortion, and drug smuggling throughout Latin America and into the U.S.
America and El Salvador Stand United
Noem met with El Salvador’s Minister of Justice Héctor Gustavo Villatoro and President Bukele to strengthen cross-border cooperation and expand deportation efforts. The Trump administration is working closely with El Salvador to ensure that criminals who cross into the U.S. illegally and commit crimes are not just deported—they’re imprisoned.
Deportation With Consequences
Under President Trump’s renewed use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, federal officials are fast-tracking the removal of violent gang members, particularly those tied to groups like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. These criminals are no longer just deported and released—they’re being handed over to foreign allies who know how to deal with them.
Though critics and activist groups have cried foul, the Trump administration remains unapologetic. Public safety comes first.
Bottom Line
Kristi Noem’s visit to CECOT wasn’t just a photo-op—it was a clear message to violent illegal immigrants: your days of exploiting America’s weak enforcement policies are over. Under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. is not only securing its borders but making sure that criminals pay a steep price for preying on American communities.